Liberia's President Charles Taylor Resigns

[Nambe]

MONROVIA, Liberia (Reuters)

Liberia's President Charles Taylor stepped down in a ceremony in the capital Monrovia on Monday with Vice President Moses Blah ready to assume the presidency.

"God willing, I will be back," Taylor said.

Taylor's reluctant resignation was in response to pressure from the United States, which hopes his departure will speed an end to the violence that has gripped the West African country for nearly 14 years. The former warlord is expected to leave for Nigeria where he has been offered asylum.

Ghana's President John Kufuor, attending the ceremony, said Blah will remain in power until October before handing over to an interim administration. The handover started later than planned under tight security. With a green sash over his trademark white suit, a mournful looking Taylor swallowed hard and blinked in the lights. A somber Blah sat nearby, toying with his gold ring. ---

[papau]

1. Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy's boy Blah takes over

Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy, the inventor of the pre-emptive strike and foremost - before Bush - believer in the need to "control" Democracy by getting it down to one party and one leader - now has his great and good friend Blah, who hangs a portrait of Khadafy in his office and his home - in charge of Liberia.

Bush is really good at getting like minded leaders into power.

But Loyalty is not high on Bush's agenda as he had to remove the fellow installed by the US in the past - Taylor. Granted Taylor was evil, but I thought that only mattered if there was a gas or oil rig or pipeline at stake.

In any case another anti democracy believer in pre-emptive strikes at the "other" side is now in office.

[snake1306]

2. Is this

resignation no. 5 or something?

[newyawker99]

4. Hi snake1306!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DagmarK]

3. How many millions from the Pentagon secret vault did this cost us?

Enough to fund headstart?

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. I love the new dude's name

Moses Blah. :->

Anybody know anything about this slimball? Time to do a little googling, I suppose.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. 1st link on 1st search, scores a hit

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/06/05/liberia.coup/

Liberia coup bid fails - sources

(CNN) -- An apparent plot to remove Liberia's president from office while he was in Ghana for peace talks with rebels this week has failed, senior sources said.

Vice President Moses Blah was approached by some rebel groups and was told they would back him if he helped them topple the government led by Charles Taylor, the sources said Thursday.

The vice president refused, but after news leaked out about plot and the president was informed, Blah resigned Wednesday night.

<snip>

Taylor was indicted Wednesday by a U.N.-authorized special court for neighboring Sierra Leone on charges of committing war crimes in that nation.



http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/06/06/liberia.fleeing/


Vice President Moses Blah was arrested and other senior officials detained. Sources close to Blah said Friday he had received a call from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia urging him to take over while Taylor was in Ghana.

The sources said Blah declined and told the security services, but he was still detained after Taylor returned.



edit: added more info. Looks like Moses is the CIA's chosen one.