Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 16, 2003
Liberian Incumbent President Not to Seek Reelection
Liberian incumbent President Charles Taylor will not seek reelection after his current tenure ends, said a mediator from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Sunday.
Liberian incumbent President Charles Taylor will not seek reelection after his current tenure ends, said a mediator from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Sunday.
"Taylor will not represent himself (to run the presidential election) at the end of his mandate," said Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Nigerian president.
Meanwhile, Abubakar also urged peace in the war-torn West African country, saying "we must do everything that is possible to
find a compromise and find a lasting peace in Liberia."
Last week, the Liberian government and rebels agreed in principle on a ceasefire drawn at the beginning of June on the outskirts of the Liberian capital Monrovia, after they renewed fighting.
The rebel group has urged Taylor to step down within 72 hours to avoid bloodshed in Monrovia.
The Liberian civil war, which lasted about 15 years and claimedat least 200,000 lives, flared up again in 1998 following attacks launched by the rebels in northern Liberia.
Civil war over the past decade has made Liberia among the most miserable places in the world and the latest unrest since 1998 hasforced some 300,000 Liberians to flee to neighboring countries andclaimed thousands more lives.