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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 11, 2003

Taylor Gives Farewell Address in Liberia

Liberian President Charles Taylor delivered a farewell address Sunday to a nation bloodied by 14 years of war, declaring himself "the sacrificial lamb" to end what he said was a U.S.-backed rebel war against his besieged regime.


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Liberian President Charles Taylor delivered a farewell address Sunday to a nation bloodied by 14 years of war, declaring himself "the sacrificial lamb" to end what he said was a U.S.-backed rebel war against his besieged regime.

Taylor, sitting solemnly with folded hands, recorded the address in front of a Liberian flag at his home, for broadcast on the evening before he was to hand power to Vice President Moses Blah at one minute before noon (7:59 a.m. ET) on Monday.

"I do not stop out of fear. I do not stop out of fright. I stop out of love for you, my people," Taylor declared, adding, "I fought for you."

He accused the United States of arming Liberia's rebels, calling it an "American war" and suggesting it was motivated by U.S. eagerness for Liberia's gold, diamonds and other reserves.

It was a goodbye that few would hear in his desperate, war-divided capital �� preoccupied in the search for food, and without fuel to keep radio or TV stations on the air.

West African leaders extracted Taylor's promises to leave Monday, to be followed by exile in Nigeria at some unspecified time after.

At least three West African heads of state, including South African President Thabo Mbeki, were expected for what Taylor's regime was trying to organize into an hours-long formal resignation ceremony.

Taylor recorded the farewell speech for radio, at a desk behind shelves piled high with folders. Lit by generators running on fuel scrounged by the presidency, the scene was recorded separately on scratchy audiotape.

By late Sunday, the speech had not been played on local radio in the unlit capital, shattered by shelling and littered with shrapnel, bullet casings and rubbish from looting by Taylor's forces.

Source: Agencies










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