Mobs of angry youths brandishing machetes, sticks and Kalashnikov rifles rampaged through Liberia’s war-shattered capital on Friday in a rare outbreak of Muslim-Christian violence, prompting the country’s leader to order an immediate round-the-clock curfew.
Plumes of black smoke rose from Monrovia’s eastern district of Paynesville, where United Nations peacekeepers in armoured personnel carriers fired in the air in a bid to maintain order, and UN helicopters rumbled overhead.
One UN armoured vehicle that was trying to disperse a crowd inadvertently crushed and killed three people who had been knocked down as they tried to flee, a police officer in the area said on condition of anonymity. UN officials could not be reached for comment.
The three mangled bodies lay near a market area in Paynesville, an Associated Press photographer on the scene said.
At least three churches and two mosques in Paynesville were set ablaze after midnight, and several wounded people lay in the streets. One man, stabbed in the head with a knife, could be seen on a main road lying, apparently unconscious in a pool of blood.
It was not clear what sparked the violence.
About 40% of Liberia’s 3,3-million people are Christians, while about 20% are Muslim. The rest follow indigenous beliefs.
In a statement broadcast over public and private radio stations, interim head of state Gyude Bryant announced an immediate curfew in Monrovia to protect “lives and properties”. He called on residents to stay home.
“I have authorised the UN to use whatever force is necessary to get everybody off the streets. Anyone attempting to vandalise will be deal with firmly and rigidly,” he said.
“I am appealing to all of you to remain calm,” he said. “We are determined to ensure that peace is restored.”
Trouble began on Thursday
Residents said troubles began early on Thursday in Paynesville and spread west to an Atlantic Ocean port in the capital. Sporadic gunshots echoed throughout the morning, as mobs hurled rocks and stones at each other.
Several homes were burnt. At least three men were seriously injured in Paynesville — one stabbed in the head, one bludgeoned in the face, and one shot in the leg who was carried to safety by two friends.
Pastor Benjamin Hajan said attackers burnt his Paynesville church down early on Thursday, saying they did so in retaliation for Christian attacks on their houses earlier in the day.
“I don’t know what is going to happen to us tonight, only God will save us,” Hajan said.
Some residents said five people had been killed in the violence.
The claims could not be verified independently, and government officials could not be reached for comment.
Violence had also reportedly spread to Kakata, 55km north of the capital, where two mosques were destroyed, said a local journalist who visited the site.
Mobs attempted to destroy a third mosque, but were stopped by peacekeeping troops deployed in the town, he said on condition of anonymity.
‘Shoot to kill’
The UN special envoy to Liberia, Jacques Klein, said in an address over UN radio the violence had “resulted in unacceptable attacks on innocent civilians and extensive destruction of private properties, including houses of worship, business centres and residences”.
He said UN troops were firing tear gas to control the situation, adding that he had given peacekeepers orders to “react with maximum force, and this means shoot to kill”.
The UN police commander in Liberia, Mark Kroeker, said UN troops had rescued several people from angry mobs in Monrovia.
Religious leaders took to the airwaves to appeal for calm.
Liberia is struggling to recover from an era of fighting that began in 1989 and claimed at least 150Â 000 lives.
A three-year rebel war ended last year. With insurgents shelling the capital, President Charles Taylor agreed to go into exile in Nigeria, clearing the way for a transitional government that gave top rebel officials ministerial posts.
A 15Â 000-strong UN peace force is now stationed in the West African nation to provide security. The new government is to hold elections in October 2005.
Sekou Conneh, who heads the main Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy rebel group, called on ex-fighters to remain indoors, saying: “We are in no way going to be a part of that … the war is over.” — Sapa-AP
Associated Press photographer Pewee Flomoku in Monrovia contributed to this report
Riots rock Monrovia