VOA News
08 Jul 2003, 18:35 UTC
Crowds of Liberian civilians have welcomed a U.S. military assessment team on the first full day of its mission in the capital, Monrovia.
Hundreds of residents followed the team, calling for U.S. intervention as the convoy drove around the city.
Earlier Tuesday, Liberian government forces fired warning shots, denying the U.S. team entry to a refugee camp on the outskirts of the capital. Civilians following the team fled immediately.
Liberian President Charles Taylor defended the incident, saying the U.S. team had failed to ask permission. Mr. Taylor also called the incident a diplomatic mistake and said he welcomes the team. But he added it should cooperate with his government.
The assessment team arrived in Monrovia Monday ahead of a possible deployment of U.S. troops. Speaking Tuesday in Senegal, President Bush said he has yet to make a final decision on U.S. involvement in Liberia.
Mr. Bush said the United States will work with the Economic Community of West African States to try to stabilize Liberia. He also said the United Nations will be involved in these efforts.
On Sunday, President Taylor accepted an offer of asylum from Nigeria, but he has set no timetable for his departure. President Bush has called for Mr. Taylor, who is under indictment for war crimes, to step down and leave Liberia immediately.
Recent fighting in Monrovia has claimed hundreds of lives and created a humanitarian crisis.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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