General News of Saturday, 16 August 2003

Source: GNA

Rebel groups struggle for govt positions

Accra, Aug. 16, GNA - The two rebel groups in the Liberian conflict are engaged in a struggle for positions in the all-inclusive National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) that would be inaugurated in Monrovia on October 14 to replace the present Government of President Moses Blah.

The two - Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development (LURD) and Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) - are demanding various positions, which they had previously agreed to give to political parties and other civil society groups.

This constant vacillation has angered the Chief Mediator of the Accra Peace Talks, Former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and he has given them two hours to reach a conclusion or he would call off the Talks.

LURD is demanding the positions of Vice-Chairman of NTGL; Speaker of Parliament; Minister of Defence and Minister of Maritime Services while MODEL is asking for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Government of Liberia (GOL), LURD and MODEL are demanding five each of the 21 Cabinet positions leaving six for the political parties and civil society organisations.