Nigerian peacekeepers roll into Monrovia

By DECLAN WALSH in Monrovia

Nigerian peacekeepers rolled in battle-scarred Monrovia to a roaring reception from ecstatic Liberians today, raising hopes that the city's suffocating siege is finally over.

Hundreds of thousands thronged roads and streets as grinning Nigerians soldiers flashed v-signs from an armoured convoy that trundled down the bullet-pocked streets.

The convoy passed by the Congress building where legislators quietly accepted President Charles Taylor's formal resignation letter in which he blamed an "international conspiracy" for his downfall.

Mr Taylor promised in a television interview to hand power to Vice President Moses Blah next Monday. His economics minister, speaking in London, said he might leave the country "sooner than expected".

On the streets joyous Liberians flung themselves before Nigerian armoured personnel carriers; other reached out to brush the boots of soldiers who blew them kisses.

"It's beautiful, it's beautiful," said Nigerian Lt-Colonel Amos Nudamajo.

Some 3,250 West African troops with the rescue mission, known as Ecomil, are expected to arrive by month's end.

"We are tired of dying. We want peace in our country," said student Danish Gbawoquiya, who held an upside down sign that read "Ecomil we love you."

The deployment has halted a relentless, two-month rebel offensive that cornered Mr Taylor in Monrovia, his last redoubt, but also killed over 1,000 civilians and sparked a massive humanitarian crisis. Exorbitant fuel and food prices have suffocated the oceanside city, clean water is rare and disease epidemics threaten.

The city centre, largely deserted for over two weeks as shells rained down and bullets whizzed through the streets, slowly resuscitated back to life yesterday.

Some residents returned home from refugee camps, a handful of shuttered shops opened their doors. But with the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy rebels still controlling the port, the city remained famished.

"There are no more rockets, now we feel safer. But we are still hungry," said corner shopkeeper Goffa Manewal, returning to his ransacked business.

The rebels have promised to allow aid through the port but so far none has arrived.

Just over 40 of Liberia's 90 representatives and senators turned up for the session in the deserted Congress building to rubber-stamp Mr Taylor's resignation letter. In a letter read to the legislators Mr Taylor blamed an "international conspiracy", including UN arms sanctions, for having forced him from office.

"They have prevented me from carrying out my constitutional responsibility of defending the country and providing essential social services to the people," he wrote.

"Therefore I, as the president of this noble republic can not preside over the suffering and humiliation of the Liberian people."

Like many public buildings, looters had filleted Congress. Offices along deserted corridors were stripped clean, carpets ripped up and electrical cabling hung from the broken ceiling. Even Taylor's own supporters said he had to go.

"It is in the interest of saving the lives of the Liberian people," said Rep. Ben Patten, who fled his home to escape the rebel advance.

Of the 10 legislators in his Monserrado County base, five had fled to the US or Ghana, Rep Patten addded. "Those of us who did not have the money for the plane are still around," he admitted.

After weeks of uncertainty, Mr Taylor's resignation seems almost certain. His chosen successor, Mr Blah, is a friend from his days of guerrilla training in Libya in the mid 1980s. The burning question now is whether he will flee into exile on Monday, as the LURD rebels are demanding. As ever, doubts hung over the wily president's intentions. Mr Taylor is struggling against a war crimes indictment brought against him by the Special Court in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

A Boeing 707 plane carrying a container full of weapons landed at Monrovia airport on Wednesday night, sources said. The delivery sparked a confrontation between Nigerian troops and waiting government soldiers, which ended with the laden plane taking off again.

The office of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, which has offered Mr Taylor asylum, said his office was "finalising arrangements" for his departure.

Meanwhile about 2,300 US soldiers remain stationed at American warships anchored about 100 miles off the Liberian coast. A seven-strong team of marines is in Monrovia to liaise with the African mission but President George Bush has yet to decide whether to deploy his troops for onshore peacekeeping.

Mr Bush has set Taylor's departure and an effective ceasefire as pre-conditions for American engagement.

- INDEPENDENT