WORLD : Liberia Factions OK Cease-Fire
Liberia’s three warring factions agreed on a cease-fire today, boosting prospects for an end to civil warfare that has claimed more than 10,000 lives in 11 months.
The accord was signed at a summit attended by leaders of 13 Western African countries convened to seek a settlement in Liberia.
Signing the agreement were Charles Taylor, head of the main rebel faction; Prince Johnson, leader of a breakaway rebel force, and Maj. Wilmot Diggs of the Liberian army, representing the followers of slain President Samuel Doe.
The meeting took place in Mali’s capital city, Bamako, 400 miles northeast of the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
The talks that led to the accord marked the first time that all three sides had met face-to-face for negotiations to resolve the conflict. Taylor had refused to attend previous peace talks.
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