Warlord Johnson Leaves Liberia

MONROVIA, Liberia: Sporadic shooting continued in Monrovia as a US. helicopter whisked Liberian warlord Roosevelt Johnson out of the country. US. officials say Johnson is slated to attend a summit conference in Accra, Ghana next week which could end six-year old civil war in Liberia. Spokesman Mike mockery said the White House endorsed the summit and stands ready to support any legitimate democratically elected government. "This won't be the first summit they've had," says Time's Marguerite Michael's. "There are two ways to stop the fighting. One is to come in with heavy firepower and force the combat to stop, the other is to make some sort of economic deal with the warlords. The problem is that Taylor and Johnson will not quit fighting while they are making money off the war, exploiting timber and diamond mines. The West let this war go on until it drove Liberia back into a 10th century situation with a set of feudal economic dominions. One summit conference is not going to solve the problems." Johnson's departure follows a renewed assault on his troops and positions by rival Charles Taylor. Thousands of refugees, desperate to leave the city, have fled to the port area of Monrovia. Looting and gunfire continues as bodies litter the streets and beaches amid rumors of cannibalism.