Navy ship Kearsarge could be diverted to Liberia

[thedrifter]

Navy ship Kearsarge could be diverted to Liberia

By JONATHAN PAYE-LAYLEH, Associated Press
? June 11, 2003 | Last updated 11:57 AM Jun. 11

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, which is in the Atlantic heading home to Norfolk, has been notified that it could be diverted to Liberia, where rebels are besieging the capital city, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

The ship carries about 2,000 Marines as well as landing craft, helicopters and other gear for missions such as evacuating civilians from war-torn areas.

The Kearsarge deployed for the war with Iraq in January as part of Amphibious Task Force East.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Rich Haupt, from the U.S. European Command in Germany, said that while the Kearsarge might be diverted, ``It is a pretty safe bet that we are not going to send the whole fleet down there.

``I can't say if the Kearsarge is going to be home on time or not,'' Haupt said.

The U.S. European Command also has sent a small military team to the area to enhance American abilities to monitor the situation in Liberia, officials said.

The Kearsarge was scheduled to return to Hampton Roads on June 26, after dropping off about 3,000 Marines in Morehead City, N.C. The amphibious assault ship is based at Norfolk Naval Station with a crew of 1,161. It can hold a landing force of 1,893 Marines and equipment and serves as a launch platform.


In Monrovia, Liberia, gunfire and explosions rattled the city Tuesday, as the weakened government bowed to international pressure and said it was ready to resume talks with the rebels.

The rebel offensive is the most intense yet in a three-year campaign to drive out President Charles Taylor, who now controls very little territory outside the capital.

Liberians fear a bloody battle for the city of 1 million, repeatedly overrun during seven years of devastating factional fighting from which Taylor emerged the strongest warlord and went on to win 1997 presidential elections.

Peace negotiations in Ghana between the Liberian government and two rebel groups were postponed Monday because of the fighting. But Liberia's defense minister, Daniel Chea, said he would return there on Wednesday to resume the talks.

His announcement came after repeated appeals by the United Nations, West African mediators and the United States for a cease-fire to allow negotiations to proceed. The Liberian government insists that rebels first withdraw to their previous positions.

U.S. Ambassador John Blaney met with Taylor on Tuesday to make clear the need for an immediate end to fighting in Liberia, a country founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

``I'm hopeful after this meeting and pretty confident that the government of Liberia is going to move forward now with alacrity and commitment at the peace table,'' Blaney said.

Frightened residents took advantage of a brief lull in fighting Tuesday morning to stock up on food. Bread, milk and sugar disappeared from the shelves as people lined up at tiny, ramshackle stores.

``It's no time to be choosy,'' said Sarah Menoh, 41, as she waited patiently for her chance at one store's dwindling stocks. ``Whatever can enter the stomach is good to have.''

Fighting broke out again in the afternoon, sending people racing back to their homes. Residents reached by telephone in Monrovia's northwestern suburbs said they could hear the rattle of small-arms fire and intermittent explosions.

``If we go on like this for more than two weeks, the suffering will become untold,'' said James Kollie, 35. ``Our actual plight seems to be unheard of outside of Liberia.''

On Monday, French helicopters swooped to rescue 535 Europeans, Americans, Lebanese and other foreigners who had gathered overnight at the European Union and U.S. Embassy compounds. They were taken to a French warship, which was headed Tuesday to neighboring Ivory Coast.


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Sempers,

Roger