General News of Saturday, 16 August 2003
Source: GNA
Accra, Aug.16, GNA- Lack of consensus amongst stakeholders at the Liberian Peace Talks over the hierarchy of the proposed Interim Administration for the war-ravaged country, delayed the scheduled signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra on Saturday. ECOWAS mediators offered 15 cabinet positions to the three belligerent groups while six portfolios went to the 18 political parties and civil society groups in the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL).
A source close to the facilitators of the ECOWAS brokered Talks, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, that the main rebel groups-Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) have widened their demand for key positions in the legislature and the executive.
These include the vice presidency, Defence and Foreign portfolios and that of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs. They are also demanding the position of Speaker in the legislature.
"We are ironing out the sticky points but I can assure you that there would be no signing of agreement on Saturday. "We hope by Monday a compromise deal will be reached," the source said.
Mr Sunny Ugoh, Spokesperson at ECOWAS Secretariat in Accra, also told the GNA that the draft document has been submitted to all the major players to study.
The document provides for a general framework for the peace process including the composition of the legislature and the judiciary. An extract of the document provides seven representatives each from the Government of Liberia (GOL); LURD; MODEL and Civil Society and special interest groups.
Each of the 15 counties and the eighteen political parties in Liberia would also have a representation at the legislature. Endorsement of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement will wrap-up two months of intense closed-door negotiations to end the carnage in Liberia.
Visiting Liberian President, Mr Moses Blah who was expected to witness the signing ceremony held closed-door meetings in Accra on Saturday with the political parties to chart a peaceful transition for Liberia.
ECOWAS sources told the GNA that General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Nigerian Head of State and facilitator at the Talks was also meeting with the LURD and MODEL to break the stalemate.
Mr Sekou Conneh, Chairman of LURD and Mr Thomas Yaya Nimely of MODEL took part in the closed-door negotiations.
The NTGL would take over from Mr Blah next October to manage a transitional process that is expected to span two years.
The interim government would organise general election and ensure the demobilisation, disarmament and re-integration of former combatants. Mr Jacques Paul Klein, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Liberia, is expected in Ghana on Sunday to hold extensive interaction with the Media over efforts at brokering peace in war-torn Liberia.
Fourteen years of conflict have killed about 250,000 people and driven some 500,000 others into exile.