Military

DATE=08/06/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-306221

TITLE=LIBERIA/CONFLICT (S)

BYLINE=SARAH SIMPSON

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: There are new doubts about whether Liberian President Charles Taylor will go into exile next week as expected, which could extend the civil war. Meanwhile, residents of Monrovia continued to look for food and other supplies as they await the deployment of the Nigerian peacekeepers who arrived on Monday. Sarah Simpson reports from the V-O-A West Africa Bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: Government troops fired into the air Wednesday morning to prevent people from crossing out of central Monrovia into rebel-held territory to look for food.

The rival forces at the two ends of the bridge have an informal ceasefire, and journalists and relief workers have crossed the bridge. But the soldiers are refusing to allow ordinary Liberians to cross. In spite of the lull in fighting, the city remains desperately short of food.

Nigerian peacekeeping troops who began arriving Monday have not yet been deployed in the capital. On Tuesday, their commander declined to say when his force will be deployed. He has met with government and rebel leaders, and says he will do so again on Friday.

Meanwhile, President Charles Taylor has cast new doubt on whether he will leave the country, as he agreed to do in a peace accord signed in June. Mr. Taylor says he will not accept Nigeria's offer of asylum unless a United Nations tribunal drops war crimes charges against him. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/AWP