First West African peacekeepers arrive

(4 Aug 2003)
1. Nigerian troops disembarking from UN aircraft
2. Nigerian troops running over tarmac
3. Various of Nigerian soldiers in grass around airstrip
4. UN aircraft on tarmac
5. Soldiers talking on tarmac
6. Various of Nigerian soldiers securing airstrip
7. People waiting by side of tarmac at International Airport
8. UN helicopter on tarmac
9. Troops disembarking from helicopter
10. Various of Nigerian soldiers securing airstrip
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel Theophilus Tawiah of Ghana, Chief of staff of the force:
"The group who has just come in is waiting for the next wave. You know the first group has to secure the ground before they ask the next wave to come in. So now that that is done."
(Q. Have you heard from the rebels yet?)
"No, we haven't heard anything from anybody yet."
(Q. Do you think that there's a danger you may have to fight your way through them?)
"I don't think so."
(Q. Why do you think that?)
"Because there's a lot of good will from everybody and we're expecting them to keep their word."
(Q. And how do you feel as this mission begins? Are you at all apprehensive?)
"No, I wouldn't say I was apprehensive. I think I am very hopeful, everybody is hopeful, everybody is waiting for us and we're expecting cooperation from everybody."
12. Tawiah and others walking away tarmac
13. Various of Nigerian soldiers securing airstrip

STORYLINE:

The first West African forces arrived in Liberia on Monday, launching an international rescue mission to end 14 years of carnage and oversee the departure of warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor.

Nigerian soldiers in camouflage and flak vests leapt out of U.N. helicopters that flew in from Sierra Leone as they settled onto the tarmac at Liberia's main airport, outside the rebel-besieged capital, Monrovia.

Machine guns at the ready, the foreign troops crouched in what was a driving rain, taking up defensive positions on the landing strip.

Authorities said a total of 192 men and tons of equipment would be deployed on Monday, but the troops would probably move into Monrovia only after more soldiers arrive in the coming days.

The men are the first wave of a promised 3,250-strong, Nigerian-led West African deployment, to be followed within months by a U.N. peacekeeping force.

West African leaders promised the force after two months of rebel sieges on Monrovia have killed more than 1,000 civilians outright and all but cut off the refugee-crowded city of more than 1.3 (m) million from food and water.

In all, 675 Nigerian soldiers and 18 of their officers assembled on the airfield to take part in the first deployment.

Defence Minister Daniel Chea greeted the troops on behalf of the Liberian government.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council endorsed the deployment of the multinational force to Liberia. The deployment will last two months, followed by U.N. peacekeepers in October.

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