Blair meets Nigeria’s Obasanjo
Tony Blair will meet Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in London today to hear the case for increased financial aid and logistical support for Nigeria’s role as a major peacekeeper in the Liberia’s civil war.
In Liberia, loyalists of President Charles Taylor are battling to stamp out the ten-day rebel insurgency against his government.
Chairman of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) rebels Sekou Conneh said his men would remain in the capital until foreign peacekeepers arrived.
“Why should I pull back? We’ll hand over positions to the peacekeepers, not to Taylor,” he said.
16 people died on Sunday amid fighting for control of a key bridge in the capital Monrovia.
Nigerian troops are expected to arrive in Liberia this week, possibly Wednesday, forming the bulk of the west African peacekeeping force which could grow to 3,600 troops.
Mr Obasanjo elected in April is pencilled in to meet World Bank President James Wolfensohn during his two-day visit.
On the agenda is debt relief for Nigeria and repatriation of stolen money.
Mr Blair is also expected to discuss the “scar” of African poverty and the political crisis in Zimbabwe under President Mugabe.
In Liberia, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in the past week.
