Jeff Koinange: 'A free-for-all' in Liberian capital
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CNN's Jeff Koinange
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MONROVIA, Liberia (CNN) -- Liberians on Wednesday began looting around the port in the capital of Monrovia, a day before rebels are to hand over the area to peacekeepers.
Two days ago Charles Taylor stepped down as Liberia's president and went into exile -- a move that many observers said they hoped would give a fresh start to the war-torn West African country.
CNN Correspondent Jeff Koinange discussed the situation Wednesday with CNN Anchor Heidi Collins.
KOINANGE: I've never seen this unbelievable scene. [Thousands of] civilians ... [are] taking whatever they can on their heads and wheelbarrows, however they can, then looting the port area that's supposed to be surrendered to the peacekeepers in less than 24 hours.
Some of them [are] literally under the eyes of the LURD [Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy] rebels. The rebels are letting them take whatever they can right now because they're supposed to surrender this port.
Civilians have been holed up in their homes, as you know, for the past few weeks -- a lot of them hungry, a lot of them without food, water, medicine. Today, they've been told, is their day to take whatever you can, and it was basically -- we asked some of them, "Why are you looting the port?" And they were telling us, "Well, Charles Taylor has gone, the rebels are telling us -- 'Take what you want' " -- and that's what they're doing, Heidi. [It's an] unbelievable scene.
COLLINS: And, Jeff, you say that the international peacekeepers should be coming in within 24 hours, right?
KOINANGE: That is correct. And in fact, we did see -- we noticed several Cobra helicopter gunships patrolling the port area. So obviously the Americans are keeping an eye on this. But this -- the document [the agreement between rebels and peacekeepers] does not take effect until noon Thursday. There is nothing they can do about it. They can literally sit in their choppers and watch and wait until [Thursday].
In the meantime, when [Thursday] comes, there will be nothing left in this port area, Heidi. They are literally going on a free-for-all.
COLLINS: I'm wondering about violence, Jeff. We've been watching this situation unfold over the few weeks, a lot of violence going on. Are the people just going for the food, or is there violence through all of this?
KOINANGE: Well, the only violence is people fighting over sacks of flour and rice and beans and all kinds of things.
And here is a bit of irony for you, Heidi. The aid agencies, the humanitarian organizations, all have their warehouses right here in the port area, warehouses which contain sacks and sacks of everything, from rice to flour, some of them made in the U.S.A.
I see sacks in front of me saying, made in the U.S.A. They are taking that, they are taking whatever they can, and some of them who aren't able to take [them] are taking from people who are taking, so that's where the violence comes in, and they are not wasting time, Heidi. This place is being cleaned out literally by the minute.
