LIBERIA: CHAOS AND LAWLESSNESS ON STREETS OF MONROVIA

(14 Apr 1996) English/Nat

Dramatic new pictures show the true chaos and lawlessness on the streets of Monrovia.

Looters openly pillage - despite the presence of West African peace keepers in the Liberian capital.

Foreigners sheltering behind the safety of the walls of the U-S embassy have told horrific tales of violence.

Youths prowl the streets, showing off their booty, stripped from the abandoned homes and offices of Monrovia.

They pack the stolen goods and themselves into a badly overloaded car and drive away - knowing no one is there to stop them.

Some are armed with machetes - others have automatic weapons - turning the capital into a killing ground.

The safest place for foreigners is the heavily guarded U-S embassy.

It's the first stop for foreigners fleeing the country and the centre of the small remaining aid operation.

American food is handed out to the growing number of hungry and homeless Liberians.

Those who've made it into the embassy have usually lost everything they own - and are lucky to have escaped with their lives.

SOUNDBITE:
Q: What did you lose?
A: everything. They took everything - silverware everything. They took our clothes - everything - our bags, they put guns in them.
SUPERCAPTION: VOX POP - foreigner fleeing Liberia

Despite the chaos and violence in Monrovia, the U-S Ambassador refuses to abandon Liberians to their fate.

SOUNDBITE:
Well let me assure them that we have no plans to pull out of here. This embassy will stay here as far as I know, and we intend to stay and be active in the peace process and try to at the same time meet the humanitarian concerns which I think we have as a result of all of this violence.
SUPERCAPTION: US Ambassador William Milan

West African peace troops patrol the streets - but so far they appear unwilling or unable to put a stop to the violence and looting.

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