Liberia History & Information

March 28, 2003
Posted to the web March 31, 2003

Monrovia

The Rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) have reportedly launched series of strikes on Government positions including new attacks in the southeastern County of Grand Gedeh.

A BBC report yesterday said Defense Ministry sources confirmed the attacks on Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County by the rebels. However, Defense officials said that Government troops were engaging the dissidents in a bid to flush them from the town.

According to the BBC, the rebels were reportedly in control of Zwedru as at yesterday. There were no details of casualties.

The attacks on Zwedru come barely 24 days after the rebels raided Toe Town, in the same County. Three Aid workers of the Adventist Relief Development Agency (ADRA) were killed allegedly by the rebels. Probe into the deaths of the men was launched recently by the Government.

The rebels had attacked a displaced center at Ricks Institute Tuesday, about ten kilometers from Monrovia, creating panic in most parts of the city.

The rebels are reported to have abducted more than 1,000 displaced people while retreating. There were also claims by some displaced people that the rebels looted and sexually abused women during the attacks at Ricks.

Defense Minister Daniel Chea told reporters Wednesday that Government troops have cleared the area of rebels, but there were also reports yesterday of sporadic firing in the area.

As the rebels opened a new fight in Zwedru, there are reports that Government forces, backed by militia fighters are engaging the dissidents in a fierce battle in the central Liberian town of Gbarnga.

There has been no comment from Defense Ministry officials as to the exact military situation in

Tubmanburg, west of Monrovia. But a boy soldier, Amos David, captured by Government troops in the Ricks area, told Journalists that there are closed to 1,000 men in Tubmanburg.

Amos, 15, who claimed not to be a fighter, but instead was used as a supply boy at the frontline, spoke of plans by the rebels to attack Monrovia.

He said about 300 men attacked Ricks, but senior security officials could not say whether there were casualties on the side of the rebels during Tuesday’s attack at Ricks.

President Charles Taylor has assured Liberians that he now has the capacity to reverse the current military situation in the country.

The President disclosed that his Government has begun ordering arms to defend the Country’s sovereignty. He cited Article 51 under the UN charter which calls for self defense of a member state of the United Nations.

The series of systematic attacks by the rebels have sparked off concerns amongst Liberians as to the possibility of the October elections. But President Taylor has assured that elections would be held.

Most Liberians are hoping that there would be a cease fire deal at the pending Bamako conference between the rebels and the Government.

However, Liberians are keenly following the development and are bracing themselves for eventualities.