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14/08/2003
US Marines move into Liberian capital
Around 200 US Marines have begun deployment into the capital of the war-torn West African state of Liberia.
Rebel forces from the group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) had pledged to move out of Monrovia's main port by August 14 – which was a precondition for the US to move more of their forces into the country. There had been about 100 US service members in Liberia prior to today's deployment.
Following the US move, military forces from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) are expected to request help from US forces working for Joint Task Force Liberia.
About 2,500 US Marines are standing by aboard the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group off the coast of Liberia. But Pentagon officials said that relatively few of these forces are likely to be called to assist the West African forces – known as 'Ecowas Mission in Liberia' or Ecomil.
Air Force Lt Gen Norton Schwartz said: "Joint Task Force Liberia is in place to assist Ecomil forces to achieve a stable environment so that humanitarian assistance can be provided to the people of Liberia and also to facilitate the transition to a UN-led international peacekeeping operation."
Lt Gen Schwartz, operations director for the Joint Staff, said that such assistance is likely to come in the form of a 150-member ground-based quick reaction force and a port assessment by American military engineers and Navy Seal divers.
Ecomil currently has a 746-man-strong battalion of Nigerian soldiers in Liberia – based mainly at Monrovia's airport. A second Nigerian battalion is expected to start arriving in country at the end of this week.
US forces will also provide air escort for any large-scale movement of Ecomil forces from the city's airport to the port.
(gmcg)
Rebel forces from the group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) had pledged to move out of Monrovia's main port by August 14 – which was a precondition for the US to move more of their forces into the country. There had been about 100 US service members in Liberia prior to today's deployment.
Following the US move, military forces from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) are expected to request help from US forces working for Joint Task Force Liberia.
About 2,500 US Marines are standing by aboard the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group off the coast of Liberia. But Pentagon officials said that relatively few of these forces are likely to be called to assist the West African forces – known as 'Ecowas Mission in Liberia' or Ecomil.
Air Force Lt Gen Norton Schwartz said: "Joint Task Force Liberia is in place to assist Ecomil forces to achieve a stable environment so that humanitarian assistance can be provided to the people of Liberia and also to facilitate the transition to a UN-led international peacekeeping operation."
Lt Gen Schwartz, operations director for the Joint Staff, said that such assistance is likely to come in the form of a 150-member ground-based quick reaction force and a port assessment by American military engineers and Navy Seal divers.
Ecomil currently has a 746-man-strong battalion of Nigerian soldiers in Liberia – based mainly at Monrovia's airport. A second Nigerian battalion is expected to start arriving in country at the end of this week.
US forces will also provide air escort for any large-scale movement of Ecomil forces from the city's airport to the port.
(gmcg)
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