A government fighter crouches to avoid gunfire, Monrovia, Liberia. (AP)
Annan Calls for Immediate Liberia Aid Story aired: Wednesday, July 30, 2003
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan is urging the Security Council to approve an immediate peace keeping force for Liberia. His request cites a "rapid deterioration" of conditions in the war-shattered African nation.
Liberia's main rebel groups declared a cease fire yesterday, but the government of Charles Taylor was quick to reject the proposed terms and the fighting continued.
More than a million people are now trapped In Liberia's capital city, Monrovia. Reports today say that starvation is becoming serious as supplies of food are nearly exhausted. For an update, Here & Now speaks with Maggie Farley from the LA Times
Many Liberians are waiting with increasing desperation for help to put an end to their civil war. Reverend Moses Kpah is a Baptist minister in Liberia's capital city, Monrovia.
When we got through to Moses late yesterday, he told us that more than 400 people had sought refuge from the fighting at his home. But even there, shells were falling. One of them killed nine of his neighbors. Moses told us there was no more food, only tea to drink, and that people are beginning to die.
Guests:
Maggie Farley, U.N. bureau chief for the LA Times
Rev. Moses Kpah, Baptist minister in Monrovia, Liberia
