Liberians celebrate Taylor's departure

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor (C) flanked by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (L) and Ghanaian President John Kuffour discusses with the West African leaders at the presidential lounge in Abuja yesterday shortly before his departure to Calabar. Taylor and members of his family were escorted to Abuja by African leaders of Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa on his journey to political asylum and self-exile in Calabar, southeastern Nigeria, to give way to a peaceful resolution of war-torn Liberia. Photo: AFP

Taylor, the warlord who brought 14 years of bloodshed to Liberia, handed over his presidency to vice president, Moses Blah. Three US warships briefly moved into view off Monrovia within minutes of Taylor's ceding power to Blah.

"Peace! Peace!" crowds shouted under the eyes of government fighters armed with AK-47s.

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"From now on, everything is going to be all right," said 25-year-old Ansu Outland.

Taylor flew to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, within three hours of resigning as president. Rebels have seized most of Liberia in their three-year campaign to depose Taylor.

In Denver, President Bush called Taylor's exile "an important step" but gave no hint whether it moved him closer toward deploying more US troops to assist with peacekeeping or humanitarian relief efforts.

"It is an important step toward a better future for the Liberian people," Bush said.

Fellow West African leaders also lauded Taylor for yielding power.

"It is our estimation that today, the war in Liberia has ended," declared President John Kufuor of Ghana, who with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and South African President Thabo Mbeki was instrumental in coaxing Taylor into exile.

In Accra, Ghana, site of off-and-on peace talks, rebel leader Sekou Conneh agreed.

"The war is over," he said. "I'm happy and I know everybody is happy."

Obasanjo welcomed Taylor at the international airport in Abuja.

"Here was a man who decided to make a sacrifice, believing that sacrifice would bring his country peace," Obasanjo said.