Jeff Koinange: Liberians 'walking around in a daze'
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CNN's Jeff Koinange
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Charles Taylor fulfills pledge to hand over power in Liberia. (August 11)
Taylor says the United States forced him to resign but that he hopes to return to Liberia.
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SPECIAL REPORT
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MONROVIA, Liberia (CNN) -- After many unfulfilled promises to leave his war-torn nation, former Liberian President Charles Taylor on Monday finally boarded a jet and flew into exile for Nigeria after relinquishing power to Vice President Moses Blah.
CNN Correspondent Jeff Koinange reported Monday that Taylor's departure may spur new hope among many Liberians.
KOINANGE: Nobody would have believed this would have happened on this day: the fact that President Charles Taylor would have followed through on one of his pledges to leave, even as an aircraft took off with the exiled former Liberian leader.
People are walking around in a daze right now. They always thought at the last minute Taylor would delay his promised departure. But he actually got into a Nigerian aircraft and headed to his new home away from home in Nigeria. It's unbelievable, that's all I can say. Unbelievable.
For the most part, the guns have been silenced for several days now. People are walking around. People are actually walking around freely.
They haven't been able to go across the bridge where the rebels are right now. Only journalists and peacekeepers are doing that. But people are walking around down in the capital, Monrovia -- a good sign.
Next, the Liberians need rebel troops to open up the nation's shipping ports so the peacekeeping troops and supplies and aid workers can move in. The airport can only receive so much food and other supplies to help suffering Liberians, crippled by a long civil war.
Tens of thousands of displaced refugees are starving in the city, in the city's stadium and all over the capital. They are in desperate need of food, water and medical supplies.
Once West African peacekeepers secure the port area, the supplies likely will be free to flow into the city, as long as supplies are not taken by looters. Once the city is secure, doctors and nurses will follow.
