GNS Liberian President accepts asylum; gives no timeframe

(13 Jul 2003)
1. Wide shot, plane taxiing on the runway
2. Liberia's President, Charles Taylor, walks past the cameras
3. Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo gets off plane
4. Taylor and Olusegun walking along the tarmac
5. Protest banner " Drop the indictment against our president"
6. Various shots of Taylor and Olusegun standing in a gazebo
7. Mid shot of band playing
8. Taylor and Olusegun seated together
9. Wide shot of press conference
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Taylor, President of Liberia:
"We believe that the participation of the United States, right now, is crucial in whatever way. We embrace it, we accept it, we invite the United States to come full force and assist in this process in bringing peace back to Liberia."
11. Wide shot of press conference
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Taylor, President of Liberia:
"He has extended an invitation. We have accepted the invitation. I think it is a matter now of making sure that it is done using our brains, that it is done properly, orderly. Then no one feels disenfranchised and begins to act disorderly."
13. Cutaway of journalists
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria:
"We believe that the exit should not take place in confusion. It should not take place in such a way that the exit will lead to more bloodshed. We believe that the transition should be orderly."
15. Car carrying Taylor driving along road
STORYLINE:
Liberian President Charles Taylor accepted an offer Sunday of asylum in Nigeria but would not say when he would quit power.
Taylor insisted the transition must be orderly and urged the United States to send peacekeepers.
He said U-S participation in an international peacekeeping force planned for Liberia was "crucial in whatever way."
Taylor made his announcement after Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met him at Monrovia's airport to personally offer asylum in his country.
Taylor and Obasanjo would not say when the Liberian president would step down, but Obasanjo said "we believe that it will not take place in the near future."
Both warned that too hasty a departure could spark new fighting in the West African nation, where hundreds were killed in a failed rebel push into the capital last month.
The calls by Taylor and Obasanjo for a peaceful transition increase pressure on U-S President George W Bush to send U-S troops to Liberia to enforce a cease-fire in the war-torn nation.
Bush heads to Africa on Monday for visits to five nations - including Nigeria, the top powerbroker in West Africa.
A team of 15 U-S military experts were to head to Liberia late Sunday to begin assessing whether to deploy troops as part of a regional force, as the Untied Nations, European powers and the Liberians have sought.
Taylor is under intense international pressure to step down - Bush said Saturday he would "not take 'no' for an answer" - and is holed up in a capital surrounded by rebels.
But he has insisted peacekeepers deploy before he will go to ensure fighting does not erupt again.
The visit by Obasanjo to bring the asylum offer in person underlined the urgency of international appeals for the Liberian leader to leave.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

[@herculesskinny2030]

Everything has an end

[@maweumuli819]

Jeff koinange my thing ❤

[@olangodavid]

Did I here Jeff koinange

[@duncanogoti1534]

Yes

[@festusimuentinyanosa3279]

Welcome to your FOREFATHERS land, The land that flowing with Milks&honey, All need change into Nature of Most High, The Bible says convert your soul.

[@sidi45]

This is 6 July 2003

[@PeterKoler-mk3hw]

rooler x

[@cynthiapaintsil6080]

1:45

[@shemarmoore5292]

Obasanjo ❤