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CNN Live Sunday
Taylor Set to Step Down Tomorrow
Aired August 10, 2003 - 16:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Liberia, where the next 24 hours could mean a new beginning for its citizens. Liberian president, Charles Taylor, has addressed the nation and says he will step down tomorrow. Our Jeff Koinange is covering the historic moves in Monrovia and joins us via video phone -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Hello there, Fredricka. And it was a very subdued President Taylor addressing Liberians, talking about how he's been demonized, how he's been denounced by the west, how he's been pushed against a wall and now literally pushed out the door, by the way. And particularly he took a stab at the United States, blaming it for his failed presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES TAYLOR, PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA: I am stepping down from this office of my own volition. No one can take credit for asking me to step down. I did not want to leave this country. I can say I am being forced to exile by the world's superpower. I have decided to leave because, for the first time in the history almost of the world, the United States is using food and other things as a weapon against the Liberian people, because if the administration of President Bush says that they will not step on the sword and will do nothing as long as I'm here, this further threatens your survival as a people. And as I have said, I can no longer see you suffer. The suffering is enough. For you are a good people. You've been very good to me through the grace of God. And I love you from the bottom of my heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOINANGE: And Fredricka, for those of you keeping count of the -- keeping track of the countdown, it is now T minus 16 hours before President Taylor steps down, and several African presidents will be present here for the occasion, in particular South African president, Thabo Mbeki. And Sunday, his advance team of special forces -- heavily armed special forces rolled into town in Humvees and jeeps to prepare for the arrival of their president. That event taking part, Fredricka, in about 16 hours' time.
WHITFIELD: And Jeff, while it appears at this juncture that the president is adhering to his promise of stepping down on Monday, since we're only hours away now and he did give us that address, is there any idea when he's actually leaving the country? That was, obviously, left out of that speech that he just gave.
KOINANGE: That's right, Fredricka. Left out of the speech. But late Sunday evening, the South African high commissioner confirmed to the "Reuters" wire agency, he said that President Taylor will be leaving the country along with the other African presidents. So it looks like Monday is not only stepping down day, Fredricka, but also departure day.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff Koinange, thanks very much for joining us via videophone from Monrovia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 10, 2003 - 16:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Liberia, where the next 24 hours could mean a new beginning for its citizens. Liberian president, Charles Taylor, has addressed the nation and says he will step down tomorrow. Our Jeff Koinange is covering the historic moves in Monrovia and joins us via video phone -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Hello there, Fredricka. And it was a very subdued President Taylor addressing Liberians, talking about how he's been demonized, how he's been denounced by the west, how he's been pushed against a wall and now literally pushed out the door, by the way. And particularly he took a stab at the United States, blaming it for his failed presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES TAYLOR, PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA: I am stepping down from this office of my own volition. No one can take credit for asking me to step down. I did not want to leave this country. I can say I am being forced to exile by the world's superpower. I have decided to leave because, for the first time in the history almost of the world, the United States is using food and other things as a weapon against the Liberian people, because if the administration of President Bush says that they will not step on the sword and will do nothing as long as I'm here, this further threatens your survival as a people. And as I have said, I can no longer see you suffer. The suffering is enough. For you are a good people. You've been very good to me through the grace of God. And I love you from the bottom of my heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOINANGE: And Fredricka, for those of you keeping count of the -- keeping track of the countdown, it is now T minus 16 hours before President Taylor steps down, and several African presidents will be present here for the occasion, in particular South African president, Thabo Mbeki. And Sunday, his advance team of special forces -- heavily armed special forces rolled into town in Humvees and jeeps to prepare for the arrival of their president. That event taking part, Fredricka, in about 16 hours' time.
WHITFIELD: And Jeff, while it appears at this juncture that the president is adhering to his promise of stepping down on Monday, since we're only hours away now and he did give us that address, is there any idea when he's actually leaving the country? That was, obviously, left out of that speech that he just gave.
KOINANGE: That's right, Fredricka. Left out of the speech. But late Sunday evening, the South African high commissioner confirmed to the "Reuters" wire agency, he said that President Taylor will be leaving the country along with the other African presidents. So it looks like Monday is not only stepping down day, Fredricka, but also departure day.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff Koinange, thanks very much for joining us via videophone from Monrovia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
