President Charles Taylor, the former warlord blamed for nearly 14 years of bloodshed in Liberia and indicted on war crimes in Sierra Leone, stepped down yesterday as demanded by the US and West African leaders.
Rebels besieging the capital threatened to resume fighting if Taylor didn't leave the country immediately after handing over to his vice president, Moses Blah.
PHOTO: AP
Taylor looked on from behind as Blah was sworn into office in front of African leaders who said his departure marked the end of an era of bloodshed in Liberia.
Placing his left hand on the Bible and his right hand in the air, Blah pledged to "faithfully, conscientiously and impartially discharge the duties and functions of the Republic of Liberia."
Addressing about 300 Liberian and other dignitaries gathered in a velvet-draped room, Ghana's President John Kufuor said Blah would hand over to a transitional government on the second Tuesday of October.
"Today's ceremony marks the end of an era in Liberia," Kufuor said, speaking as head of a West African bloc that has sent peacekeepers to Liberia. "It is our expectation that today the war in Liberia has ended.
He also said South Africa would be contributing troops to the West African force, which started deploying last week.
"It is indeed a shameful thing that as Africans we have killed ourselves for such a long time," said South African President Thabo Mbeki, who received a standing ovation. "It is indeed time that this war should come to an end."
Taylor, in a white safari suit and holding his trademark staff, arrived hours late for the ceremony at his Executive Mansion, heavily guarded by Nigerian and South African forces.
Blah waited for him with Liberian and regional officials in a stifling room without electricity.
Outside, Monrovia's beleaguered people cheered the Nigerian peacekeepers -- part of a vanguard peace force meant to build to 3,250 West African soldiers -- but reserved celebrations over the former warlord's resignation until it was official.
"I can hardly believe it. He has brought too much suffering on the Liberian people," said Henry Philips, 38, a former security official. "His absence is better than his presence."
Many of Taylor's undisciplined, often-drugged fighters who had previously patrolled the area appeared to have slipped away into the city with their weapons.
Taylor had pledged to hand over power at one minute before noon, but was delayed at the airport where he welcomed Mbeki, Kufuor, Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and Togolese Prime Minister Koffi Sama.
Rebels have rejected Taylor's choice of successor -- a longtime ally and comrade in arms -- and demanded that a neutral candidate be chosen to preside over a transition government until elections can be held.
Yesterday, pickup trucks full of armed rebels raced toward the front as insurgents threatened to resume fighting if Taylor stays in the country after turning over power.
Taiwan ties steady
Taiwan's diplomatic ties with the Liberia remained intact, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Kao An (高安), deputy director for Information and Cultural Affairs Department under the ministry, said that as a long-time ally of Liberia, Taiwan will not interfere with it's domestic affairs and hope order and peace will be restored there soon.
Ambassador to Liberia Chen Yeong-cho (陳永綽) and two staff members are now in Ivory Coast waiting for Taipei's instructions. They will return to Monrovia as soon as fighting subsides there. The diplomatic channel between the two countries remains open, Kao said.
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