Liberian Says Rival Airlifted to Please U.S.
The government here allowed a fugitive former warlord to be airlifted from the U.S. Embassy to ease the strain on U.S.-Liberian relations, President Charles Taylor said Saturday.
One day after Roosevelt Johnson was flown out of the seaside American compound under heavy guard, Taylor told reporters that Johnson--his main rival--was not worth the price of a diplomatic standoff.
Johnson and 27 other people were flown to a West African peacekeeping base in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and he was then taken to Nigeria and jailed, Taylor said.
Taylor said that Johnson--accused of treason and other crimes--will be tried under Liberian law. Liberian newspapers have said he will be tried in absentia and returned to Liberia if found guilty.
Johnson fled to the U.S. Embassy on Sept. 17 during gun battles between his supporters and government forces seeking to arrest him.
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