US calls on President Taylor to create conditions for peace

Describing the current fighting in Liberia as "senseless", US Ambassador Bismarck Myrick has called on "all parties in the region" to stop supporting groups seeking political change through violence, and for them to respect their neighbours' borders. His appeal on Friday came two days after leaders of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone agreed in a summit, in Morocco, to enhance border security and take measures to restore peace among the three neighbouring countries. Myrick, accredited to Liberia, said Liberian President Charles Taylor could help prevent more suffering in the country by setting the conditions for peace, political competition, and change. "Political change at the point of a gun is not acceptable, it must not be Liberians' only option," he said. He urged Taylor to discipline its security forces and others who have "threatened or used violence" against political and civil society leaders, to provide unconditional amnesty to all political prisoners, to respect press freedom, and allow the independent electronic media to broadcast on AM, FM and short wave frequencies throughout the country. In addition, Myrick called on Taylor to reach agreement with all peaceful political movement and parties on "the specific nature of guarantees and mechanism" for open political debate and free, fair and inclusive elections. Myrick also called for respect of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.