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- <text>
- <title>
- ECOMOG To Create Buffer Zone, Deploy in Liberia
- </title>
- <article>
- <hdr>
- Foreign Broadcast Information Service, April 21, 1992
- Liberia: ECOMOG To Create Buffer Zone, Deploy
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p>[Paris AFP in English 1600 GMT 20 Apr 92]
- </p>
- <p> [Text] Monrovia, April 20 (AFP)--The field commander of
- the multi-nation West African peace-keeping force, ECOMOG,
- [Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire Monitoring
- Group], Major-General Ishaya Bakut, Monday [20 April] said the
- troops will "shortly" create a buffer zone with Sierra Leone and
- deploy throughout Liberia.
- </p>
- <p> Bakut said the leaders of ECOMOG, in agreement with Liberia
- leaders, have mandated ECOMOG to deploy its troops throughout
- Liberia and disarm all fighting factions to establish an
- atmosphere for free and fair elections in the country.
- </p>
- <p> "The successful completion of this task will provide the
- necessary and required condition in which Liberians can conduct
- political activities without pressure, molestation or
- intimidation of whatever nature", Bakut said in a nationwide
- radio broadcast.
- </p>
- <p> He said "a happy, free and fair political environment is
- achievable only when the fighters of the warring factions in
- Liberia have been disarmed and the arms collected and put away".
- </p>
- <p> "This is our major task, which we will undertake shortly for
- the good of all Liberians", Bakut said.
- </p>
- <p> He solicited the support and cooperation of all Liberians,
- and assured them that ECOMOG's duties would "not interfere" with
- the administration of Liberia.
- </p>
- <p> Bakut said ECOMOG soldiers will continue to maintain a "very
- cordial, friendly and happy" relationship with the people,
- village heads and elders.
- </p>
- <p> He said ECOMOG troops will control security at the border
- areas while Liberians carry out customs and immigration checks.
- </p>
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-