Monrovia, Aug 14: In a major move to secure Liberia's war-wracked capital, West African peacekeepers today took control of Monrovia's Port, while new president
Moses Blah was in Ghana for peace talks with rebel leaders.
West African ECOMIL peacekeepers were handed control of the deep water harbour -- a key gateway for food and direly needed humanitarian aid -- by rebels who had seized it
nearly a month ago.
The ceremony was attended by General Festus Okonkwo, the Nigerian commander of ECOMIL, US ambassador to Liberia John Blaney, and Sekou Fofana, the Deputy Secretary General of the rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).
"As far as we are concerned we will cooperate. We will comply and we will leave," Fofana said.
Huge crowds cheered the ECOMIL troops, who took control shortly after 11:30 am (1700 IST) and were accompanied by three US soldiers.
Other US troops arrived outside Monrovia earlier today, but a military spokesman said they would provide only logistical support and let ECOMIL handle the port-securing
operation.
Meanwhile, Blah, who took over on Monday after Charles Taylor went into exile, arrived in the Ghanaian capital Accra to discuss peace prospects with rebels.
He will meet with members of the country's two rebel groups -- LURD and the movement for democracy in Liberia (model) -- who have been attending West African-brokered talks in Ghana since June.
Foreign Minister Lewis Brown said the aim of the visit was "to discuss the peace process and the way forward".
Bureau Report
