President on Liberia, missile plot

(13 Aug 2003)
1. US President Bush and his economic team walking toward reporters
2. Reporters
3. Bush speaking
4. Treasury Secretary John Snow
5. SOUNDBITE (English) President George W. Bush
"We're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. The fact that we're able to sting this guy is a good example of what we're doing to protect the American people."
6. Bush speaking
7. SOUNDBITE (English) President George W. Bush
"One of the things I have said all along is that we are there to help ECOMIL do its job by providing the conditions necessary for the providing of relief. That's why we have an assesment team on the ground that is dealing with the Nigerian who is in charge of ECOMIL to determine what is necessary to help ECOMIL do its job. They are in the lead and we are there to support and help."
8. Reporters
9. SOUNDBITE (English) President George W. Bush
"It's in China's interest that the Korean peninsula remain nuclear weapons-free and we are just continuing that policy. It is very helpful that the Russians are involved with the dialogue with the North Koreans. It is also very helpful that the South Koreans and the Japanese will be involved. I think we can deal with this situation in a peaceful way and we are making good progress."
9. Reporters listening
10. SOUNDBITE (English) President George W. Bush
"Now the economy has overcome those obstacles and yes, I think people are going to go back to work. And I firmly believe that what we have done was the absolute right course of action in order to help people find a job."
11. Bush speaking with reporters
12. Bush picking up his dog and getting into pickup truck with his advisors

STORYLINE

Some 200 American troops could move ashore in Liberia if rebels fighting there abandon the country's port, the Defence Department said on Wednesday.

The US forces would include elements to serve as liaison to African peacekeepers, Navy SEALS to make sure the waterway is secured and engineers to assess the port for delivery of humanitarian aid.

Liberia's main rebels, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, signed an accord on Tuesday promising to pull back completely from Monrovia by noon local time Thursday and surrender control to peacekeepers.

Based on that promise, the US military plans to place marines with peacekeepers as the port changes hands from the rebels to the African force, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, President George W. Bush said it was up to Nigeria whether to turn Liberia's exiled ruler over to an international court.

Speaking to reporters at his Texas ranch, the president said he was glad Charles Taylor had left his country this week.

The departure raised hopes that Liberia's brutal, 13-year civil war could come to an end.

A UN court in Sierra Leone has lodged war crimes charges against Taylor.

Asked if Nigerian authorities should turn Taylor over, Bush replied: "They can work that out."

Bush also said his main focus was on making sure humanitarian aid gets to Liberia's suffering citizens.

The president also spoke about the North Korean nuclear crisis, saying that the United States and Asian nations "feel strongly about the peninsula being nuclear-free".

Bush said North Korea failed to keep its word and developed enriched uranium after reaching an agreement with the Clinton administration to freeze its nuclear programme.

But with Russia and China joining the negotiations "we're making good progress", Bush said.






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