GNS Taylor addresses members of his party. Peacekeepers, US & rebels discuss opening port

National Patriotic Party HQ, Downtown Monrovia (Government held)
1. Women clapping and dancing outside meeting of Taylor's political supporters
2. Soldiers standing nearby
3. President Charles Taylor's entourage arrives
4. Taylor (grey suit) exits his car and walks through the crowd
5. Various of people outside
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop:
A - "My feeling is, I hope he goes and rests and comes back again."
Q- "You want him to come back?"
A. "Yes, he's welcome to come back. "
7. Women singing and dancing
8. Window of the meeting room
9. Interior of meeting
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Taylor, President of Liberia:
"I hope the spirit that I brought to leadership in this country has not been a selfish spirit."
11. Various outside the meeting as Taylor's entourage leave

Free Port of Monrovia (in rebel-held part of town)
12. Wide shot of the port area
13. Soldiers patrolling port
14. Bodies floating atop the water (NB discolouration of bodies is due to decomposition)
15. Various of soldiers surveying area
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) US Army Colonel Sue-Ann Sandusky:
"As I said before this is an opportunity for the chief of staff to look at the ground and some key terrain at the port."
17. Soldiers at the port
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abdulahi Sherief, Chief of Staff LURD (main rebel group):
A -"The government is responsible."
Q - "How do you know that for a fact? "
A- "How we came and how we were treated."
Q - "So you think the government was responsible?"
A - "They are responsible for all the damages."
19. SOUNDBITE: (English): Sekou Fofana, LURD Civil Affairs Deputy:
"What happened here. You have to take something into consideration. We came to save lives and property, and much as we are here we feel that people in our country are secure, but when we are leaving, we want to come a full deployment (of peacekeepers), in a larger number, not in a smaller number because I am afraid that until they come they may massacre the civilians."
20. Various of people at the port
21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brigadier General Festus Okonkwo, Nigerian Commander, ECOWAS peacekeeping force:
"We are looking at what is available here to handle ships so the humanitarian aid can come through really. Basically see how effectively the port can be open.
Q - You feel humanitarian aid can come in soon?
A - I think so
Q - How soon?
A - I don't know. I don't know who all want to come in.
Q - What is the main obstacle?
A - Well, if the place is open. If ECOMOG (sic) can then move in, then the technical men can assess what is their requirements."
22. Various of men and soldiers walk inside supplies building
23. Bag of corn amongst the supplies
24. Various of group leaving the building

STORYLINE:

With a weak truce still holding in Monrovia on Saturday, President Charles Taylor met with members of his political party on Saturday, and he was greeted by chanting, singing supporters, some of whom said they hoped he would return to power eventually.

Taylor has promised to leave power at one minute past noon on Monday, and to go into exile in Nigeria at some unspecified time in the future.

Taylor's pledge to step down comes as rebels hold on to ground won in a two-month siege of Monrovia, pressing home their three-year campaign to drive out Taylor.

Western aid agencies and diplomats continued negotiating for humanitarian access to Monrovia's rebel-held port, with hunger building on the government-held side.

A West African (ECOWAS, Economic Community of West African States) peace force, due to eventually reach 3,250 is building strength at a temporary base at Liberia's main airport, well outside Monrovia.
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