By Rachel Laskow
 A celebrating crowd carries Colonel Onwuama Egbu Emeka, one of the Nigerian peacekeeping soldiers, across the runway at Robertsfield airport near Monrovia on Monday, August 4. (Ben Curtis/AP Wide World) |
Despite the peacekeepers' presence in Monrovia, the next day brought fighting in the northern town of Gbarnga and growing tensions in the capital.
New Leader, New Problems
At the same time, Liberian President Charles Taylor announced that he will hand over power to Vice President Moses Blah on Monday. But a rebel group fighting the Liberian government doesn't want an ally of Taylor's to hold power.
The rebels control Monrovia's port. They had promised to open the port once West African peacekeepers arrived, but now they are threatening to continue the war if Blah takes power. The port is needed so food and supplies can be brought to the refugees in the rest of Monrovia.
"If Moses Blah takes over, we will fight back. We will definitely fight Moses Blah," said Sekou Fofana, a top official of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) in Monrovia.
Taylor plans to hand over power to Blah on Monday and go to Nigeria afterward.
"I can assure you that I will be here not one minute longer than necessary. My movement is a matter of security, but it will happen sooner than later," Taylor said.
Taylor is wanted for war crimes by a U.N.-backed court in Liberia's neighboring country, Sierra Leone. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell states that Taylor will not avoid the charges if he goes to Nigeria.
"If Mr. Taylor leaves Liberia, as we expect him to do in the very near future, and is given asylum in Nigeria, this does not remove the indictment in any way," Powell said.
