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Show a TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION/WORLD tC.ttn Peacekeepers meet Liberian rebels Shaky truce: U.S. and West African officials hope to get food flowing back into Monrovia By ANN SIMMons LosAngeles Times MONROVIA, Liberia — Amid a shaky truce Tuesday between government and rebel forces in this war-torn nation, U.S. and West African officials ventured into rebel territory to urge rebels to open the port and help feed this starved capital. A day after peacekeepers arrived in the shell-shocked city to a rapturous welcome, the officials traveled in a convoyofat least a dozen cars to talk to rebels who have besieged the city for two months. The peacekeepingforce of 200 West African soldiers, expected to swell to 3,250, will not move from the airport to the center of town for several days. But the mere presence ofthe soldiers has seemingly been enough to silence the guns. The trip into the rebel stronghold around the port allowed a glimpse of what was Als Wednes« lay. August 6, 2003 thought to be some of the worse fighting in Liberia’s 14-year civil Treasury says it will not release names ofSaudis war. Tae New York TIMES Stopping on the government- held end of the city’s so-called New Bridge, the delegation first met with senior Liberian militaryofficials and urged them to respect a cease-fire with the rebels. The bridge had become a killing field during repeated rebel pushes toward downtown Monrovia and the heart of governmentterritory. “We are happy that you people are here,” Liberian commander Gen. Benjamin Yeaten told U.S. Ambassador to Liberia John Blaney and the peacekeepers’ commander, Nigerian Brig. Gen. Festus Okonkwo. “There will be no shootingatall.” The American ambassador had helped broker the cease-fire several weeks ago, but it had largely been ignored until Tuesday. A major obstacle to peaceis still Liberian President Charles Taylor. Leaders of the rebel movement, Liberians for Reconciliation and Democracy insist there can only be peace when Taylor leaves the country. Succumbing to pressure from the international community, Taylor has agreed to resign Ben Cuntis/The Associated Press Liberian combatants cautiously meet each other Tuesday at the middle of the New Bridge, a center of fighting in Monrovia. Rebel Gen. Acapuico, right, of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), shakes hands with government fighter Col. George Rollins. Monday. But he appears reluctant to keep his promise to go into exile in Nigeria, saying he would leave only when enough peacekeepers have arrived and when an_ international war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone drops its indictment of him. “As long as he doesn’t leave, we will keep fighting,” said the rebelchief of staff, Maj. Gen. Abdulla Seyeah Sheriff. More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in the recent fighting, and few haveaccess to adequate food, clean water and proper medical care. Meanwhile a Defense Departmentofficial told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that a U.S. military liaison team of between six and 10 was preparing for an “imminent” arrival in Monrovia. The team, on board Navy warships off the coast, could grow to | as many as 20, the official said. The U.S. Treasury Depart ment said Mondaythatit would decline to provide the Senate with a list of Saudi individuals and organizations that the fed eral government has investigated for possibly funding alQaida and other terrorist groups. The action was the secondin two weeks to set the White House and Congress at odds over the Saudis and federal intelligence-gathering related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Moreover, the move contradicted an assertion made last Thursday by a senior Trea sury official, Richard Newcomb, who told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee in a hearing on Saudi sponsorshipofterrorism that the list was not classified and that his agency would turn it over to the Senate within 24 hours. On Monday evening, with senators still awaiting thelist, Treasury advised the committee that it would soon send a letter declaring the informa tion classified. “The information requested relates to ongoing U.S. govern mentefforts to disrupt terrorist financing,” Taylor Griffin, a Treasury spokesman, said Monday. “Public disclosure at this time would frustrate those efforts.” Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., one of two senators whoasked Newcombfor the list during hearings last week, said he planned to subpoenathe Trea sury Department for the infor mationifit was not released to the Senate. Treasury's about-face on the list follows the White House’s decision last week not to declassify 28 pages of a congressional report on theSept. 11 at- tacks that detailed possibic Saudi involvement in the strikes. Specter and others in Congress have said the moves create the impression that Saudi Arabia, the world’s larg est oil producer and an important American diplomatic partner, is being coddled to advance Americaninterests. Screeners at airports told check small electronics Cox News SERVICE WASHINGTON — Someair travelers may wantto leavecell phones and cameras at homefor a while, The Department of Homeland Security advised airport screeners across the nation Tuesday to intensify searches of these and other small electronic items, including car key alarms, saying that terrorists may try to convert them into concealed weapons. “Al Qaida operatives have shown a special interest in con- verting a camera flash attachment into a stun gun type of weapon or improvised explosive device,” the advisory said. Explosives hidden inside even the smallest camera:could cause: “collateral damage,”it added. Although the advisory comes on the heels of a government warning that terrorists may be planning more suicide hijackings, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said the governmentis not considering rais- ing the national threat level, which remains at yellow, marking a “significant” risk of terroristattack. Yellow is in the middle of a five-level scale implemented last year to guide government response to terrorist threats. At a Washington news conference outside a local fire station, Ridge said there have been no. indications that terrorists have used these types of disguised electronic devices. The advisory — sent to air- port security managers, screeners, law enforcement officials and the Federal Protective Ser- vice, which protects government buildings — asks officials to scrutinize auto camera flash attachments, cellular telephones, multi-band radios, dual speaker radios, various remote car key alarms and other portable elec- 7 Piece DINING ROOM 96” Solid woodtable with butterfly SALE °499! WA MASTER BEDROOM bettyae self-storing leaves and six chairs Deluxe All Wood Construction! Transitionalstyling includes triple dresser, framed mirror, nightstand, queensize sleigh bed. SALE *999"! tronic items. It says that the portableelectronic items are ideal for concealing explosive devices and offer terrorists the ability to mask bomb components during X-ray inspection. Ridge said he anticipates more delays during screening, but said the new measures are necessary to ensure the safety of travelers. Diana Cronan, a_ spokeswoman for the Air Transport Association, which represents 22 U.S. airlines, declined to weigh in on the possible delays. “We don’t comment on security matters. The airlines continue to work with the Depart- ment of Homeland Security on all security matters,” she said. LIVING ROOM GROUP COMPUTER DESK ARMOIRE Slide out keyboard,file cabinet, towerstorage. In oak or cherry. SALE °299"! ‘of FineFurniture and Mattresses! WE WILL ne)a:)4 To)1x0oy Cash, check or your good credit is accepted! Includes sofa, love seat, 2 lamp tables, cocktail table, 2 table lamps SALE °499! Queen Size Pillowtop NO FLIP MATTRESS SET SALE ‘249! 3 Piece LEATHER GROUP Top grain Italian leather. 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