DATE=4/17/96 TITLE=LIBERIA / MONROVIA (L ONLY) BYLINE=KIRK TROY DATELINE=MONROVIA

INTRO: GUNFIRE CONTINUED WEDNESDAY IN LIBERIA’S CAPITAL, MONROVIA, AROUND THE CITY’S MAIN MILITARY BARRACKS, ALTHOUGH A U-S EMBASSY OFFICIAL SAID THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF SHELLING. REPORTER KIRK TROY IN MONROVIA REPORTS THAT ALTHOUGH THE FIGHTING WAS MUCH LESS THAN ON TUESDAY, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE VIOLENCE, AND A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IS DEVELOPING AS FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES RUN OUT.

TEXT: AROUND THE BARCLAY TRAINING CENTER MILITARY BARRACKS (OR B-T-C), FIGHTERS LOYAL TO REBEL LEADER ROOSEVELT JOHNSON CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE FIRE WITH FORCES ALIGNED WITH RIVAL LEADERS.

WHAT WAS INITIALLY A STANDOFF IN THE CITY CENTER HAS BECOME MORE CHAOTIC, AS GUNMEN COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE FROM THE BARRACKS, PUSHING FOR TERRITORY, AND THEN RETREATING.

THE SCENE INSIDE THE B-T-C IS DIFFERENT THAN EARLIER REPORTED. AROUND 10-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE SAID TO BE INSIDE THE COMPOUND, BUT ACCESS FOR THOSE COMING AND GOING APPEARS FAIRLY SIMPLE.

PREVIOUS REPORTS SAID THOSE INSIDE WERE BEING HELD AS HOSTAGES BY JOHNSON FORCES. BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE ANY MORE. MOST OF THOSE IN THE B-T-C ARE STAYING BECAUSE OF THEIR FEAR OF FIGHTING IN SURROUNDING AREAS.

ACCORDING TO THE REBEL COMMANDER IN THE B-T-C, AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 38 WERE WOUNDED TUESDAY. MORE THAN 150 HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE BARRACKS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE RENEWED FIGHTING.

THE COMMANDER SAYS AROUND 15 TO 20 PEOPLE EACH DAY ARE GETTING CHOLERA. AND HE IS ASKING THE AMERICAN EMBASSY TO ARRANGE FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO TREAT THE SICK AND WOUNDED.

MANY MONROVIANS ARE ASKING WHAT WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCES ARE DOING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. EVERY DAY THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE OF THEM ON THE STREETS. BUT THEY ARE MAINLY SITTING AT THEIR CHECKPOINTS, WATCHING THE FIGHTERS AND LOOTERS GO BY, AS THEY STAY CLEAR OF THE FIGHTING.

THE LATEST REPORTS SAY A DELEGATION FROM GHANA — REPRESENTING WEST AFRICAN NATIONS — IS ON THE WAY TO LIBERIA TO TALK WITH THE PARTIES INVOLVED. (SIGNED)

NEB/KT/JWH/MMK

17-Apr-96 12:20 PM EDT (1620 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America .