For the better part of a day last week, no one knew who was in control of Liberia (pop. 2 million), the African nation founded in 1847 by freed American slaves. Diplomats in Monrovia reported that rebels had attacked the Executive Mansion at dawn Tuesday, using artillery and heavy machine guns in a full-scale battle with government troops. Soon after the fighting began, former Army Commander General Thomas Quiwonkpa announced on the radio that he had overthrown President Samuel K. Doe, 33, whom he accused of corruption and brutality. That evening, however, Doe assured his countrymen that...
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