• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Liberian President Charles Taylor says he will step down - but only after the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to the war-torn West African nation.

Mr. Taylor told a meeting of religious leaders Friday in the capital, Monrovia, that he did not understand why the United States government was insisting he give up power before U.S. troops arrive to help stabilize Liberia. He also said he would welcome foreign troops to help enforce a cease-fire in Liberia.

It is not clear if an offer of asylum has been offered and agreed to. Earlier this week, Mr. Taylor rejected an offer from Nigeria. He is under indictment by a U.N. backed court on charges of committing war crimes. Mr. Taylor has demanded the charges be dropped.

The development comes day after President Bush repeatedly and publicly called on the embattled, former rebel leader to give up power. The Bush administration is weighing possible U.S. intervention in Liberia -including sending U.S. troops. But Mr. Bush and other senior U.S. officials have said Mr. Taylor's resignation is the key to bringing peace to Liberia.

Mr. Taylor agreed to resign in a June 17 peace deal with rebels who control over two-thirds of Liberia. Soon after, he backed off his promise and declared he would continue serving out his current term which ends in January.

Washington has been under pressure to lead a multinational operation since last week's rebel offensive in the capital, Monrovia, killed more than 500 civilians and displaced thousands of others.

A shaky truce in place since last Friday appears to be holding.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.