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Lawmakers approve Taylor`s exit as peacekeepers enter Monrovia
Monrovia, Aug 08: The Liberian Parliament yesterday overwhelmingly approved President Charles Taylor`s decision to step down next week as West African troops staged their first patrols in war-riven Monrovia to a tumultuous welcome.
Monrovia, Aug 08: The Liberian Parliament yesterday overwhelmingly approved President Charles Taylor's decision to step down next week as West African troops staged their first patrols in war-riven Monrovia to a tumultuous welcome.
The embattled Taylor -- who now controls only a fifth of his country and has struggled to defend Monrovia - shunned a key joint session of Parliament debating his pledge to step down on Monday but the motion was approved by 46 votes to one.
In line with the Constitution, Taylor, who has been offered asylum by Nigeria, will hand over power to his deputy, Vice-President Moses Blah.
Taylor, who stands indicted for war crimes by a UN-backed court in neighbouring Sierra Leone, sent a message to Parliament saying he was the victim of an "international conspiracy."
"They have prevented me from carrying out my constitutional responsibility of defending the country, providing essential social services to the people," he said, referring to UN sanctions and an arms embargo slapped on his regime since 2001, which prevented him from fighting a rebel onslaught on his capital. "We are convinced that we are not the problem in Liberia," Taylor said using the royal plural and stressed that the government was not to be "blamed solely" for the state of affairs.
Earlier, an irritable Taylor told a private TV channel that he resented massive international pressure on him to leave Liberia.
Bureau Report
In line with the Constitution, Taylor, who has been offered asylum by Nigeria, will hand over power to his deputy, Vice-President Moses Blah.
Taylor, who stands indicted for war crimes by a UN-backed court in neighbouring Sierra Leone, sent a message to Parliament saying he was the victim of an "international conspiracy."
"They have prevented me from carrying out my constitutional responsibility of defending the country, providing essential social services to the people," he said, referring to UN sanctions and an arms embargo slapped on his regime since 2001, which prevented him from fighting a rebel onslaught on his capital. "We are convinced that we are not the problem in Liberia," Taylor said using the royal plural and stressed that the government was not to be "blamed solely" for the state of affairs.
Earlier, an irritable Taylor told a private TV channel that he resented massive international pressure on him to leave Liberia.
Bureau Report