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Us funds rebels for diamonds gold { August 11 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/nation_and_world/article/0,1426,MCA_454_2173242,00.htmlhttp://www.gomemphis.com/mca/nation_and_world/article/0,1426,MCA_454_2173242,00.html
Liberia's Taylor records farewell
By Our Press Services
August 11, 2003
MONROVIA, Liberia - In what he billed as a farewell address Sunday night, Liberian President Charles Taylor accused the United States of engineering his demise and challenged President Bush to rebuild the nation he's leaving in shambles.
"The solution for the problems of Liberia cannot be for the president of the United States to ask the president of Liberia to leave," Taylor said.
"If that is the challenge, I challenge George Bush, with due respect, Mr. President, please, you are a man of God, do something for our people."
In a televised address to a nation without electricity, Taylor called himself "a sacrificial lamb" and "whipping boy."
Taylor, sitting solemnly with fold ed hands, recorded the address in front of a Liberian flag at his home, for broadcast on the evening before he was to hand power to Vice President Moses Blah at one minute before noon (6:59 a.m. CDT) today.
"I do not stop out of fear. I do not stop out of fright. I stop out of love for you, my people," Taylor declared, adding, "I fought for you."
He accused the United States of arming Liberia's rebels, calling it an "American war" and suggesting it was motivated by U.S. eagerness for Liberia's gold, diamonds and other reserves.
Taylor, who was elected in 1997 after leading an insurgency, still faces arrest for war crimes after being indicted by a UN-backed court in neighboring Sierra Leone, where he supported a brutal rebel force in a quest for diamond fields.
"These have been tough years," Taylor said. "As I look at people dying, I must stop fighting. I could no longer see the blood of our people wasted.
"And I say to you, God willing, I'll be back."
Speaking slowly, with a raspy voice, the Liberian leader declared: "I love this country very much. This is why I have decided to sacrifice my presidency.
"They can call off their dogs now." Taylor said. "We can have peace."
The war has left Taylor controlling little but downtown, referred to derisively by rebels as Taylor's "Federal Republic of Central Monrovia."
West African leaders extracted Taylor's promises to leave today, to be followed by exile in Nigeria at some unspecified time after.
At least three West African heads of state, including South African President Thabo Mbeki, were expected for what Taylor's regime was trying to organize into an hours-long formal resignation ceremony.
The recording session came as at least one car piled with luggage pulled out of Taylor's high-walled private home.
Female members of Taylor's party danced outside to show support and veterans of 14 years of conflict under Taylor stood by aimlessly.
Support stopped just across the street from the former warlord's home.
"We've been praying to Almighty God for this day," said Theoway Gayweh, among small crowds gathered across the street to watch what they hoped would be the last hours of Taylor's regime.
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