Military

DATE=09/18/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=LIBERIA/NIGERIA/TAYLOR (L-O)

NUMBER=2-307665

BYLINE=SARAH SIMPSON

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The special U-N representative for Liberia says exiled former President Charles Taylor is still meddling in Liberian affairs. Sarah Simpson reports from the V-O-A West Africa bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: Interviewed by telephone from Washington, the U-N special representative for Liberia, Jacques Klein, said former President Taylor has not retired quietly.

/// FIRST KLEIN ACT ///

Taylor is still meddling in the politics of Liberia. As we have always said, Taylor with a cell phone is a government in exile.

/// END ACT ///

And Mr. Klein says the former president's involvement goes beyond telephone calls.

/// SECOND KLEIN ACT ///

The evidence is that several ministers have visited him in Nigeria, that three or four businessmen have visited him in Nigeria. We know that from sources within Monrovia, that he is on the telephone to people in Monrovia threatening them, demanding pay-offs.

/// END ACT ///

In a telephone interview from Monrovia, the Liberian information minister, Reginald Goodridge, denied that the former president is playing any kind of inappropriate role in Liberia.

/// GOODRIDGE ACT ///

President Taylor has not made any kind of public announcement, or anything like that. I can tell you that President Blah is the man in charge here, and he is doing everything to work with the peacekeepers to ensure that the transition comes about on October 14th.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Goodridge also said he sees no reason that what he called Mr. Taylor's old friends should not visit him in Nigeria.

Mr. Klein's reaction:

/// THIRD KLEIN ACT ////

Well, I think that is just about as disingenuous a statement as you are (one is) likely to make.

/// END ACT ///

According to Liberia expert Alex Vines, head of the Africa program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, the U-N charges are no surprise.

/// ACT VINES ///

It must be very difficult for Charles Taylor to disengage from Liberia and Liberian politics. And his influence is still very visible there. I mean many business enterprises in Liberia are joint enterprises. Even at a commercial level, his presence is still very much felt in Liberia today.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Vines says it is important for the Liberian peace process that Charles Taylor is fully disengaged from day to day activities in the country.

The situation remains tense in Liberia, where West African peacekeepers have been trying to disarm rebel groups and restore order and the flow of humanitarian aid. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/AWP/RAE/TW