VOA News
08 Jul 2003, 13:06 UTC
Forces loyal to Liberian President Charles Taylor have prevented a team of U.S. experts assessing humanitarian and security needs from entering a refugee camp near Monrovia, the capital.
The team, who is in Liberia ahead of a possible deployment of U.S. peacekeepers, turned away and drove back Monday to the American embassy compound in Monrovia.
There is no explanation yet for the incident.
The Bush administration is debating whether to send U.S. troops to help stabilize Liberia. Intense fighting in the capital has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced tens of thousands of others.
While in Senegal, on the first stop of a tour of Africa, President George W. Bush said he had yet to make a final decision on possible U.S. intervention in Liberia.
But he says Mr. Taylor, who is under an international war crimes indictment, must step down.
The Liberian leader accepted an offer of asylum from Nigeria on Sunday, but has set no timetable for his departure.
On Monday, Mr. Taylor told reporters he would step down as soon as possible, but might return to political life if the Liberian people want him to.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.
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