UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9A
Liberian warlord vows to attack rival leader
American military plans to protect the U.S. Embassy
The Associated Press
MONROVIA, Liberia — With American warships hugging Liberia's shores to protect the U.S. Embassy, the country's main warlord vowed yesterday to launch an all-out assault on his chief rival. International mediators tried to cobble together a last-minute truce.
A dark cloud of smoke hung over Monrovia as homes set ablaze by militia fighters burned. The fighters have destroyed much of the West African capital during almost a month of unrest and anarchy.
Charles Taylor, a member of the governing council who also leads one of the major rebel factions, called off a cease-fire and ordered his troops to prepare for an assault on the Barclay Training Center army barracks held by rival Roosevelt Johnson.
At the same time American warships were on the horizon, U.S. Ambassador William Milam, U.N. special envoy Anthony Nyakyi and a representative for African peacekeepers said they had received a cease-fire agreement from Johnson's representatives.
A U.S. diplomat who did not want to be named said the mediation team was attempting to reach Taylor.
It appeared unlikely, though, that Taylor would agree to the second cease-fire since April 19 without a promise by Johnson to give himself up.
For the second straight day, three U.S. warships carrying 2,000 Marines moved within three miles of Monrovia's shores after a rebel firefight broke out on the strategically important Johnson Street Bridge.
Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said the idea was to provide a more visible presence and to shorten the flight time between the ships and the embassy compound. Bacon said the Marines wanted to be ready to reinforce its detachment if necessary.
The bridge leads into the capital and is not far from the U.S. Embassy.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. government issued a statement in neighboring Sierra Leone that condemned the warlords for the renewed fighting.
"The Liberian people desperately want peace," the statement said. "It is the faction leaders who have chosen to pursue their political objectives through violent means, regardless of the suffering they are inflicting on the Liberian people."
The United States threatened to work against any rebel leader who seized control of the government.
"Any group leader who comes to power by force or any illegal means will be politically and economically isolated," the statement said. "The U.S. will work to ostracize such a
"Any group leader who comes to power by force or any illegal means will be politically and economically isolated."
U. S. government press release condemning wartords
government from the international community."
Taylor, a member of the six-man ruling Council of State, issued his own warning to the United States, telling Washington to stay out of the internal affairs of Liberia, whose capital has been buffeted by the worst fighting in six years of war.
Rebel factions moved their battles away from the U.S. Embassy and into Taylor's neighborhood Wednesday, a day after U.S. Marines guarding their embassy shot and killed three Liberians who fired toward the compound during heavy fighting.
Soccer fans in Sarajevo see first game since 1992
Match signifies much anticipated peace in region
The Associated Press
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — There was no time to practice; the field had just been cleared of land mines.
But the thousands of soccer fans in the stadium didn't care that the teams were a little rusty.
They donned their caps and scarves and turned out with vigor yesterday to watch rival Sarajevo teams play for the first time in four years. The ruined Grbavaca stadium was packed with 15,000 people, all thrilled to savor one of the normal pleasures of peace once again.
"It is not just the game I am here for," said Kemal Festic, 29. "It is also the feeling of freedom I have, now that I can come here."
Organizers waited until the last minute to announce the match between FC Sarajevo and FC Zelejnicar — the home team known as Zeljo.
Hundreds of deadly mines had littered the field.
They were swept away by mine cleaners in time for kickoff but not for practice.
The stadium saw some of the worst clashes between Bosnian government troops and the Bosnian Serb army. A quarter of its stands were completely demolished. Two craters, each several yards wide, still yawn behind one goal.
Even the smoke and rattle of a 15-minute pre-game fireworks show reminded some fans of when the stadium marked a front line.
"Every time one of these crackers explodes next to me, my stomach jumps," said Festic, wearing a blue-and-white Zeljo scarf. "I feel like it is another shell exploding."
City officials decided to hold the game yesterday to mark the fourth anniversary of the day the Grbavaca neighborhood and its stadium came under Bosnian Serb control.
Grbavaca, just south of Sarajevo's city center, was the last of five Serb-held districts given to government control in March as part of the U.S.-brokered Bosnian peace agreement.
Before he introduced the game, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic freed pigeons to symbolize the peace that has come to Grbavica.
At least one Bosnian Serb, who identified himself only as Dragan, crossed into what Serb leaders now regard as enemy territory to watch.
"I am a Zeilo fan. I have always been and always will be," said Dragan, who traveled 12 miles from the Serb stronghold of Pale and painted his face in Zeilo's colors.
"I came to see the game," he said.
"I don't care about the stupid war."
Nedim Tanovic, who left Sarajevo when war erupted in 1992, now lives and practices law in Croatia. Back on a visit, he postponed his departure to see the game.
"I had to see this match to make sure the war is over," Tanovic said. "Maybe now I will come back for good."
"This is what Sarajevo was always about," said another fan, Senad Alic. "If we fight, we should fight for a ball — for a score and not for politics."
Still, not everything was normal. In addition to the police, ambulances and firefighters present at any soccer game, the mine clearers were on hand.
"We did clear the stadium," one said, "but you never know."
Fuad Hozic, 54, brought along his wife and two daughters.
"For me, this is not just a game. I don't care who wins," Hozic said. "For me, this means the war is over, and we are free."
Most people shared Hozie's feeling as they watched their teams fight to a 1-1 draw.
"It feels very, very strange to be here," Miroslav Pilj said, sipping a beer. "Just a year ago it was unbelievable this could happen."
THE NEWS in brief
Bardot objects to dog meat sales in South Korea
The Associated Press
PARIS — Brigitte Bardot wants South Korea to ban the sale and consumption of dog meat during the 2002 World Cup if it wins the right to host the international soccer championship.
South Korea and Japan are competing to host the next World Cup. Soccer's governing body has said the competition would be awarded to an Asian country.
Bardot said Western sensitivities would be hurt by the sight of dead and live dogs sold in the markets for
human consumption.
"This market and the methods of slaughtering these dogs are unbearable to Westerners who consider dogs to be the companion of man and also man's best friend," she said in a letter to Song Young Shik, president of the South Korean
World Cup Organizing Committee.
"Players, supporters, organizers, football fans and other friends of animals will not tolerate this practice in the country hosting the World Cup," she said.
Bardot noted that the South
Korean government forbade the sale and consumption of dog meat during the 1988 Summer Olympics.
In South Korea, dog meat is considered a delicacy that can enhance health and sexual prowess.
It openly is purchased and served.
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