 MONROVIA : The Liberian capital was again under curfew afternoon for the second day after riots that left five dead, sparked by what many believe are a reprise of ethnic tensions in the war-weary west African state. The riots also renewed concerns about the volume of weapons still in the hands of former fighters just days before a massive UN campaign to disarm Liberia's three warring factions is to wrap up its voluntary phase. Though some 90,000 ex-combattants enrolled in the program ending Sunday, only 26,000 weapons were turned in.
| Seems like a few girlie-boys forgot to turn in their rifles. |
Government chairman Gyude Bryant, in lifting the curfew imposed Friday at 1400 GMT, blamed the two days of street violence, looting and destruction of property on hooligans. "Investigations carried out up to now show that there were no Muslims or Christians burning churches or mosques but hooligans perpetrating those acts," Bryant said. "Those perpetrators will be identified and arrested."
| I think the translation of that is that Chuck's boyz are trying to set the two sides at each other's throats. |
Rioting had started late Thursday in the densely populated Paynesville district, punctuated by automatic gunfire as it spread through Monrovia on Friday. Churches, mosques and religious schools were set ablaze by rioters who also upended and torched cars. Looting was rampant. Two prominent Mandingo members of Bryant's transitional government had their houses destroyed in Paynesville in what many fear could be a new flashpoint for conflict pitting the Muslim ethnic group against other, Christian tribes. Mandingos make up the majority of the main rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), which took arms against Charles Taylor in 1999, two years after he claimed the presidency following his own seven-year rebellion. |