MODEL welcomes decision of Taylor to step down

Accra, July 7 GNA - The Movement For Democracy In Liberia (MODEL) one of the rebel groups resisting the rule of President Charles Taylor through the force of arms on Monday expressed satisfaction with the decision of the embattled President to step down and go into exile in Nigeria. General Boi Bleaju Boi, Military Spokesperson for MODEL, said in an interview with Journalists at the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra that President Taylor was inconsistent with his pronouncements and could, therefore, not be taken seriously until he delivered on his word. "Taylor is somebody who says something and changes his mind. He is a liar, who has committed a lot of atrocities against Liberians."

General Boi, who is in Accra attending the ECOWAS-brokered Peace Talks on his war-ravaged country, expressed optimism about a breakthrough to end the 12 years stalemate. The Peace Talks had dragged on for one month due to major differences between the Liberian Administration and the two armed groups- Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development (LURD) and MODEL over the legitimacy of the Presidency of Taylor since the Sierra Leone based UN War Crimes Tribunal indicted him. The warring parties violated the fragile ceasefire they signed in Accra on June 17, with each accusing the other of attacking their positions. The two rebels groups have been making constant demands on President Taylor to step down since the inception of the Peace Talks on June 4. President Taylor, on the other hand wants the indictment dropped as a pre-condition for stepping down.

President George Bush, who is expected to unveil a plan for a possible US led Multi-National Interventionist Force In Liberia before embarking on his scheduled African tour, had repeatedly called on President Taylor to step down. The Nigerian Leader President Olusengun Obasanjo clinched a deal with President Taylor at the weekend when he offered to host him should he decide to step aside. General Boi said MODEL had presented a proposed peace plan to, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Chief Mediator of the Peace Talks, and expressed optimism that it would boost the search for a comprehensive peace plan that would among other things carve an interim government for Liberia.

He disassociated MODEL from public pronouncements made by Former Rebel Leader, Roosevelt Johnson claiming to be a member of the Movement. Mr Johnson Leader of the defunct ULIMO-J of Liberia, now living in exile in Nigeria was reported to have associated himself with MODEL in an interview with the BBC. Mr Tiah Slanger, Chairman of MODEL, debunked the notion that the Movement had waged the war on President Taylor because of its ambition to govern the West African country that had been engaged in a bloody conflict for over 12 years, leading to major humanitarian crisis. The conflict has generated more than 500,000 refugees in the West Africa Sub-Region alone with many more of the internally displaced lacking potable water, food, medication and shelter. Mr Slanger said: "We have not thought of forming a political party. We can join any of the political parties in Liberia." MODEL has, however, expressed interest to be part of the interim administration for Liberia, which is now on the drawing board.