Military

DATE=08/14/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-306486

TITLE=LIBERIA / PEACE TALKS (L-O)

BYLINE=SARAH SIMPSON

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The new president of Liberia, Moses Blah, is meeting in Ghana with Liberian rebel leaders in an effort to bring durable peace to the country. Meanwhile, peacekeepers have taken control of Monrovia's key port. Sarah Simpson reports from the V-O-A west Africa bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: Leaders of Liberia's two main rebel groups that have, in part, forced the exit of former President Charles Taylor, are assembled in Accra, Ghana, for peace talks.

According to Liberian Foreign Minister Lewis Brown, Mr. Blah is bringing new propositions for the rebels.

Mr. Blah succeeded Mr. Taylor on August 11th after rebel fighters and intense international pressure forced Mr. Taylor to step down and take exile in Nigeria.

Mr. Blah has been given the mandate to serve out the end of Mr. Taylor's elected term in office, which is to end October 14th. A transitional government is then to be put in place and national elections organized.

Rebel leaders have said that they are not happy about the appointment of Mr. Blah to the post of president, even in an interim capacity. They say that Mr. Blah is no better than Charles Taylor, that he is equally responsible for Liberia's problems.

Meanwhile, west African peacekeepers have begun deploying in rebel held parts of Monrovia for the first time since peacekeepers landed in Liberia nearly two-weeks ago. Their arrival was met with more cheering crowds and will enable the distribution of desperately needed food and medical supplies to the war-weary population. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/MAR/RAE