Gunmen Fire on President of Liberia : Doe Uninjured but 2 Guards in Jeep Are Wounded in Ambush

Gunmen opened fire today on Liberian head of state Samuel K. Doe’s jeep, pumping 30 rounds into the vehicle. Doe escaped the assassination attempt but two of his bodyguards were wounded, the official Liberia News Agency said.

Doe told high government officials that the attack on the grounds of the executive mansion was led by the deputy commander of his presidential guard, the agency said.

Doe said bullets hit the cap he was wearing and peppered both sides of his jeep. One of the bodyguards was reported in critical condition.

The attack occurred about 12:45 a.m. as Doe was driving home, the news agency reported.

Security forces launched a search for the man Doe named, Col. Moses M. D. Flanzamaton, deputy commander of the presidential mansion battalion, the agency said.

Seen Escaping

The news agency said Flanzamaton, who was previously thought to be close to the Liberian leader, was seen escaping in his U.S.-made private car immediately after the shooting.

Roadblocks were set up at streets leading out of Monrovia at dawn today, taking morning commuters by surprise, witnesses said.

The news agency said Doe gave his account of the shooting while briefing high government officials at the executive mansion. It said the officials included the vice president of the interim National Assembly, Harry Moniba; the vice head of state, Brig. Gen. Abraham Kollie, and the army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Henry Dubar.

It was believed to be the first assassination attempt against Doe, 34, a former army master sergeant who seized power in an April, 1980, coup. Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed American slaves, and their descendants ruled the West African country until the coup by Doe, an indigenous African.

In the last five years, there have been numerous claims by the military government of coup plots. Doe has promised to return Liberia to civilian rule next January and elections are scheduled for later this year.

Driving Jeep Himself

Doe said he was driving the jeep with two of his bodyguards as passengers, returning from relaxing at the guest house at Paynesville about four miles from the mansion, and when he reached the second gate at the executive mansion, Flanzamaton opened fire, the news agency said.

The Liberian leader said more than one person was involved in the shooting because there were bullet holes on both sides of the jeep, the agency said.

Doe said that about 30 rounds were fired and that Flanzamaton was firing a .50-caliber machine gun.

Doe said that the shots punctured one tire of his jeep but that he managed to bring the vehicle to a halt by crashing into a light pole and was not injured himself, although the bullets ripped into the seats and shattered the jeep’s windows.