   |
|
afrol News, 20 June - According to a communiqué by the Liberian rebels LURD, the two strategic towns of Klay and Gbah have been captured. The two towns lie some 60 and 43 kilometers respectively from Monrovia. The rebels claim government forces were killing civilians. The rebels indicate they still are not willing to negotiate with the Monrovia regime of President Charles Taylor, whose downfall is LURD's main goal. "We wish to state very clearly that this time around we are pursuing Taylor's arrest all the way to Monrovia," their statement reads. "We also reiterate our appeal to all Liberians to be considerate and give us the chance in chasing out the Ghaddafi supported Taylor from our country and the Mano River Union basin in the shortest possible period." - At the moment the ruthless [Anti Terrorist Unit] ATU elements of the Taylor NPFL Monrovia regime are fleeing as our forces make advances in strategic locations and tactically take up positions in preparation for the capital, the statement of the rebel group 'Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy' (LURD) says. The rebels say they have "legitimate concerns" for the civilian population due to the "ruthless" actions by the government's ATU forces and "call on the international community" to halt these attacks. "We strongly condemn the killings of civilians in the Gbah Market Square and on the Monrovia - Tubmanburg highways by Taylor's retreating ATU soldiers in the area. This is a violation of international humanitarian law," the LURD statement reads. According to the rebels, a large group of civilians may have been killed by government-backed troops. LURD mentions killings of civilians in Gbah and on the Tubmanburg highways by Taylor's forces "prompted the ongoing demonstration by the Liberian Drivers Union against the Monrovia regime yesterday." The rebels, on the other hand, expressed their "support for the drivers and request Taylor to immediately release all those drivers currently arrested as a result of the drivers' strike action." The LURD statement also emphasises that the ongoing struggle was "not a tribal, sectarian, nor religious affair." Neither were they "targeting nor witch-hunting any other Liberians. This battle is against only one individual and that is Charles M. Taylor who is wanted for his commission of war crimes: crimes against humanity, and looting and terrorism in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other West African States," LURD says. The rebel movement, based in Voinjama, Lofa County, near the Guinean border, has been militarily successful this year. While the LURD rebels earlier had seemed a local problem confined to northern Lofa County at the Guinean border, this year's assaults have demonstrated that LURD indeed is equal in strength compared to Taylor's government troops. While the Liberian government is internationally isolated - UN sanctions prohibits it from buying arms - LURD has a massive support from outside; especially from exiled Liberians and assumedly at least from the government of Guinea. LURD also seems to have broad support among the "African Liberians" as opposed to the Liberians descending from Afro-American slaves, which mostly support Taylor's regime. Sources: Based on LURD and afrol archives
|