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News #254 – Liberia
August 14, 2003
Executive Secretary’s flat and car damaged by shelling
MONROVIA, Liberia — Property belonging to Daniel Forkpah, the Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Liberia, has been damaged in the crossfire between government forces and rebels in the capital.The news came in an e-mail sent to Margaret Karangatha, a Management Consultant based at the United Bible Societies’ Anglophone Africa Regional Service Center in Nairobi, on August 11.
“Since July 19, the civil war between the government of Liberia and rebel forces in Monrovia has gone from bad to worse,” Mr Forkpah wrote. “More than 1,000 people dead during the last weeks, with more than 200 injured.”
“Last week,” he added, “my apartment got burnt and my car got damaged from rocket shelling by rebels and government forces fighting in Monrovia.”
Describing the mobile phone as the only means of communication now available in Monrovia, he told Mrs Karangatha he had tried to call several times but to no avail. A week ago she reported that attempts by the Regional Service Center to ring him also proved unsuccessful.
Earlier this week, in a move widely welcomed by other African countries, Liberia’s President, Charles Taylor, stepped down from power and went into exile in Nigeria.
At the beginning of July, the Bible Society lost some property after looters broke into the offices in Monrovia. (214 words - LIBERIA 14.8.03)For further information please contact Andrew Mathewson, UBS Editor.
Alternatively, write to:
Andrew Mathewson
UBS Editor,
UBS World Service Center
Reading Bridge House, 7th Floor
Reading
RG1 8PJ
England