GNS WRAP Liberian president leaves power and goes into exile

Описание: (17 Aug 2003)

Roberts International Airport, 11 August
1. South African president Thabo Mbeki walking with Taylor and guards on tarmac
2. Charles Taylor and President of Ghana John Kufuor and Mozambique's president Joaquim Chissano getting into vehicle

Executive Mansion, Monrovia, 11 August 2003:
3. Press waiting for dignitaries to arrive
4. Dignitaries arriving
5. Press attending presser
6. Outgoing president Charles Taylor praying
7. Cutaway of Moses Blah, Liberian Vice President to be sworn in as President
8. Close up of Liberian Vice President Moses Blah clapping
9. Cutaway of Charles Taylor and Moses Blah
10. Close up of Taylor looking distressed
11. Wideshot of Thabo Mbeki speaking
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Thabo Mbeki, South African President:
"South Africa will contribute troops to the UN forces in Liberia."
13. Moses Blah and Charles Taylor clapping
14. Close up of Liberian Vice President Moses Blah clapping
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Taylor, Outgoing Liberian president:
"There's a ongoing process in Accra. I'm hoping that after I leave, they can come to Liberia (applause). If Charles Taylor, if Charles Taylor is a problem, it will be out of here in the twinkling of an eye. And I say: well meaning Liberian, come home! If we respect this constitution, a government formed in Accra is a violation out of the constitution. Let them come home, let that government be formed in Monrovia."
16. Cutaway of press
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Taylor, Deposed Liberian president:
"I want to thank president Bush, even though we have had our disagreements, and I think I'm entitled to my opinion as he is entitled to his, but I believe that he's a christian and I know he has a good heart, even though he has been misled with lies and misinformation. But I know that God will reveal the truth to him. I have nothing against him, I believe he's made decisions based on the lies (inaudible). But the Republic of Liberia will survive and I know he means well and urged him to do everything to help ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States, i.e. countries supplying peacekeepers) in this country to move forward."
18. Wide of ceremony (choir sound)
19. Choir singing
20. Various of Blah being sworn in as president
21. People watching ceremony
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Moses Blah, Liberian president:
"We must put aside our selfish trouble political, religion interests and focused on the task of bringing peace and prosperity to our beloved country so the generations unborn may enjoy the fruits of our blessings."

Roberts International Airport, 11 August
23. Taylor walking on tarmac
24. Taylor boarding plane

Monrovia (rebel-held port)
25. Various of LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy) rebel fighters celebrating Taylor's departure
Monrovia (government-held downtown)
26. Various of US warships

STORYLINE:

With a wave of a white handkerchief, indicted war criminal Charles Taylor left Liberia for exile on Monday after resigning as president, under international pressure and besieged by rebels who have seized most of the country.

Friends, relatives and even some soldiers wept and wailed at Liberia's international airport as Taylor and members of his family boarded a Nigerian presidential jet and flew off.

Shortly before his departure, three United States (U.S.) warships, which had been anchored over the horizon for the last week or so, appeared near the coast.


But no forces disembarked and the ships soon withdrew from sight.


















The war had left Taylor controlling little but downtown.



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