Liberia's main rebel group leader declares end of hostilities

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 28, 2003

Liberia's main rebel group leader declares end of hostilities

The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) "has decided to end all hostilities" and is "not prepared to fight anymore," according to reports reaching Lagos from Monrovia Saturday.

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The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) "has decided to end all hostilities" and is "not prepared to fight anymore," according to reports reaching Lagos from Monrovia Saturday.

Sekou Konneh, leader of Liberia's main rebel group LURD, made the remarks at his movement's headquarters in Tubmanburg, 60 km north of Monrovia.

He said even the skirmishes that had recently been reported would soon stop.

LURD and another rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), signed a peace agreement with the government on Aug. 18, but sporadic clashes have continued in some parts of the country.

"I .. assure the Liberian people that the war is over. I am going to pay a courtesy visit to Monrovia to let the people know that it is time for peace," Konneh said.

Konneh, who was flanked by armed Guinean soldiers, said he was prepared to meet interim President Moses Blah for talks on how to move the country forward.

The 42-year-old rebel leader has been based in Guinea for most of the past 13 years and has close rapport with Guinean President Lansana Conte.

He said his priority now was to ensure that Liberian refugees were repatriated back home.

He confirmed that skirmishes between government militias and his forces were still going on in Bong county in central Liberia, which was formerly one of Taylor's military strongholds.

He urged the west African peacekeeping force to keep the two sides apart.

Recent clashes between LURD and the government forces near Gbarnga, 150 km north of Monrovia, sent more than 80,000 displacedpeople fleeing from camps in nearby Totota.

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