9 die as militiamen, U.N. troops clash in Liberia
MONROVIA—Bodies of men in the former government's militia lay in the streets of Liberia's capital yesterday as U.N. peacekeepers confronted gunmen on a burning, shooting and looting rampage in Monrovia's bloodiest day since an August peace deal. The violence, launched by militia demanding cash to give up their guns, was the first serious threat to U.N.-backed disarmament. Fighting late Tuesday and early yesterday killed at least nine Liberians. A woman died in the shooting Tuesday. The injured included a U.N. officer from Benin, shot as his troops tried to arrest gunmen loyal to ex-president Charles Taylor. At daylight yesterday, Associated Press journalists saw the bodies of eight fighters in civilian clothes, on streets and roadsides, surrounded by hundreds of incredulous ex-comrades. Rag-tag, undisciplined and habitually drunk and stoned, the fighters' return to gunplay after 2 1/2months of peace here is a major challenge for the existing 4,500-strong U.N. peace force. The force, due to grow to 15,000, is to help oversee disarmament of some 40,000 rebel and government fighters nationwide after 14 years of near-constant conflict. The new government and rebels are trying to implement a peace deal reached after Taylor fled Aug. 11 into exile in Nigeria.U.S. and Liberian officials went on state radio to demand the gunmen lay down their arms. Clashes began Monday, the second day of disarmament, when Taylor loyalists were to enter a disarmament camp. Instead hundreds rioted. On the city's eastern edge, they shot AK-47 rounds in the air looted and burned homes and chased civilians off the streets. U.N. leaders agreed Tuesday to give $75 (U.S.) cash to each fighter who gave up his gun and entered the camp. Still, rioting persisted. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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