Monrovia, July 26: Liberian President Charles Taylor reaffirmed today that he will step down when peacekeepers arrive to restore order in the war-ravaged country. "They (the international community) have imposed an arms embargo... Economic sanctions, and as long as I am here you will continue to suffer... Therefore I have decided to quit," Taylor told a ceremony at Monrovia's Stadium to mark Liberia's independence day.

"For one man, Charles Taylor, Liberia cannot die," he added. The Liberian capital has been wracked by fierce fighting over the past week between forces loyal to Taylor and rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths.

Bureau Report