WRAP Interview with Liberian leader + US advisors arrive

(7 Jul 2003)

1. Set up shot, Liberian President Charles Taylor
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Taylor, Liberian President (on whether he would step down):
"Oh definitely, definitely. As soon as they arrive here I will, in the shortest possible time, I will then proceed to exercise the invitation granted to me by President of Nigeria. And I can rest a little bit, and maybe come back after a little while."
3. Helicopter landing
4. Marines getting off the helicopter
5. Marines with equipment running
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Taylor, Liberian President:
"I said that I, for the sake of peace, would step down from office to give peace a chance in Liberia. It was not President Bush that made the call on me to step down before I decided to step down. Bush is late on this matter. So my leaving from office is not dependent on the arrival or the departure of the Americans. My leaving office is dependent on two factors: one, my willingness to do so, and secondly, the presence of an international force that will stabilise the situation in the country as I depart. So it's not the presence or the absence of the Americans."
7. Various, marines standing in group

STORYLINE:

Liberian President Charles Taylor said on Monday he was ready to step down, but only after international stabilisation forces arrive in his country to restore order.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Taylor reiterated appeals for the United States to contribute troops to the force, saying their presence was a condition for his departure in order to prevent "chaos and anarchy."

However, in a separate interview with Associated Press Television News, he said his departure depended on "the presence of an international force, not the presence or absence of the Americans."

Taylor, beset by rebels and indicted by a UN-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone, has repeatedly promised to step down.

On Sunday, he accepted an offer of asylum for Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo but did not specify when he would leave.

On Monday a team of US military experts arrived in Liberia to assess whether to deploy troops as part of an intervention force that would restore order to the country.

The United Nations and European leaders have sought US troops to enforce an oft-violated cease-fire between forces loyal to Taylor and rebels fighting for three years to oust him.

West African nations have offered 3-thousand troops and have suggested that the United States contribute another 2-thousand.

Meanwhile, President Bush was due to travel to Africa late on Monday for visits to five nations, including regional power Nigeria.

Leaders from the United Nations, Europe - and the Liberian people - have increased pressure on Bush to send US troops to enforce an oft-violated cease-fire between forces loyal to Taylor and rebels fighting for three years
to oust him.

West African nations have offered 3-thousand troops and have suggested that the United States contribute another 2-thousand.

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