Minister warns of "bloodbath" if Taylor is forced out

The Liberian Information Minister, Reginald Goodridge, warned on Thursday that "an immediate and unceremonious departure" for President Charles Taylor, could lead to a "bloodbath" in the war-torn West African country. His remarks were the latest indication that Taylor intends to resist pressure for him to step down within 30 days of Tuesday's ceasefire agreement to make way for a transitional government that is due to organise fresh elections. Goodridge told a news conference in the capital Monrovia: "Taylor's unceremonious departure from the presidency would lead to a bloodbath in Liberia." Even though Taylor had mentioned the possibility of stepping down at some point, Goodridge said, that was "immaterial". The June 17 ceasefire agreement between the Liberian government and the two rebel groups, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), stipulates that a transition government will be named within 30 days that will exclude Taylor. At the opening of peace talks with the rebels in the Ghanaian capital Accra on June 4, Taylor said he was prepared to resign if this would bring peace to the country. But last week, the Liberian leader told reporters he would not consider stepping down before the end of his current term in January 2004 unless an indictment against him for war crimes were rescinded. The indictment was announced by the UN-backed Special Court in Sierra Leone on as Taylor flew to Accra for the opening of the peace talks. Goodridge told reporters that "any disorderly transition of power which excludes Taylor could lead to a bad precedent, continuous violence, political revenge and instability" in Liberia. "What is important to this government is that Taylor should be part of the disarmament and demobilization process and the transition from war to Peace," he added. The information minister said: "He (Taylor) has to settle the anxieties of tens of thousands of combatants, both regular army personnel and government militias out there in the forest region of the country.". He argued that LURD and MODEL commanders would be responsible for disarming their own fighters and Taylor should be given an opportunity to do the same. Diplomats said a high level of distrust still existed between the government and the rebels. "They talk, but don't trust each other at all. The rebels want Taylor out now. But Taylor's men insist that he and other officials must have some guarantees against possible prosecution before they leave," said one diplomat who has been following the peace talks in Acccra. Taylor's indictment for supporting rebel forces who committed atrocities during Sierra Leone's 1991-2001 civil war, threw other top officials in Liberia into a panic. One told IRIN in Monrovia on Wednesday: "We want a security guarantee [at the talks] that we would not be embarrassed after leaving power. This indictment is posing a problem for us. Today it is President Taylor, tomorrow it could be us." Goodridge dismissed allegations by LURD and MODEL that government forces had continued to attack their positions after the ceasefire took effect as "predictable and simplistic" . The government, he said, was delighted to have signed the truce and was prepared for its implementation. Goodridge said government fighters had been ordered to obey the ceasefire, which took effect at midnight on Tuesday.