Liberian Peace Talks drags on

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - Lack of consensus and technicalities are holding the endorsement of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement by stakeholders of the two months old Liberian Peace Talks in Accra. Consequently, ECOWAS mediators are unable to announce a tentative timetable for approval of the document defining the transitional arrangements that would prescribe an interim political administration as a panacea to the 14 years of civil conflict in the West African state. Mr Sunny Ugoh, Spokesperson at the ECOWAS Secretariat, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday: " May be or may be not, we will sign the agreement on Friday.

"There are few technical issues to be resolved," he said, but declined to give details.

The major players at the Peace Talks are the three belligerent groups - the Liberian government, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) that signed a fragile Ceasefire Agreement in Accra on June 17. Other stakeholders include 18 political parties and a number of civil society groups.

However, Mr Mohammed Dukuly, a Representative of the Liberian Government had told the GNA that he was not aware of any sticky issues stalling the signing of the agreement.

"We are all waiting for the final draft to study for endorsement," he said.

Mr Abraham Mitchell of the New Deal Movement attributed the impasse to the frequent violations of the ceasefire agreement and the entrenched positions taken by some of the stakeholders on former President Charles Taylor, who resigned as Head of State on Monday and went into exile in the South Eastern Nigerian port city of Calabar.

The departure of former President Taylor, who handed over to Vice-President Moses Blah has been hailed by the international community as signalling the end of the 14 years of civil war that has killed about 250,000 people and has forced more than 500,000 people into exile. Mr Mitchell said expectations of Liberians for a viable political administration was due to the fact that political democracy had not flourished in the country that prided itself as the oldest Republican State in Africa.

"Indigenous Liberians have been excluded in political participation for a long time. Between 1955 and 1980 Liberia was a de-facto one party state under the True Whig Party.

"I am over 50 years old and the first time I participated in a general election was 1997."

Mr Mitchell said any Liberian vested with executive authority to head the interim administration should be able to reconcile and unify Liberians.

Ten names come up for consideration to head Liberian interim gov't

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - Ten names have come up for short listing to head the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) that would prepare the country for multi-party elections, sources at the Liberian Peace Talks in Accra told the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday. The list include; Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party; Mr Martin Sheriff of National Reformation Party; Mr George Toe Washington of Peoples' Democratic Party and Mr Jyude Bryant of the Liberia Action Party.

The others are Mr Wesley Johnson of United Peoples' Party; Mr Togba-nah Topoteh of Liberians People's Party and Harry Monibah of the Liberia National Union.

The rest who are standing as independent candidates are Mr Marcus Jones, President of the National Bar Association of Liberia, Mr Roosevelt Quiah and Bishop Marweh.

In another development, General Boi Bleaju Boi, Military Spokesman for Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) has called on the international community to prevail on the Liberian Armed Forces to stop its attacks on the Movement's positions at Grand Bassa County. "Reports I received on Wednesday morning indicate that MODEL positions at Buchanan have been attacked."

He told the Journalists in Accra that former President Charles Taylor was away, but he still controlled the Liberian Army through the new President Mr Moses Blah to perpetrate such attacks.

Mr Mohammed Dukuly, a Representative of the Liberian Government at Accra Peace Talks, however, dismissed the General Boi's claim, saying:" We are on the defensive how do we attack them.

"Anytime they want to launch an offensive they accuse the government of attacking their positions." 13 Aug. 03