
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 4, 1990                   TAG: 9006040230
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MONROVIA, LIBERIA                                LENGTH: Medium

PANIC GRIPS LIBERIAN CAPITAL AS SOLDIERS, FAMILIES FLEE

Fistfights are erupting over gasoline and taxis and vans line the road to neighboring Sierra Leona as rebel troops draw near the capital. Dozens of government troops are fleeing or evacuating their families.

Government soldiers were seen Sunday trying to put hundreds of family members onto aircraft headed for Grand Gedeh County, a stronghold of President Samuel Doe's Krahn people.

The Krahns fear reprisals from rebels, mostly members of the Gio and Mano tribes who have advanced on Monrovia since invading the West African country of 2.5 million people from the Ivory Coast about five months ago.

Also fearful of rebel reprisals and trying to leave the city - for Sierra Leona and Guinea by road and by air - were people of the Mandingo group. The Mandingos are mainly well-off business people accused of supporting the Krahns. The front line of battle was reported 35 miles from the capital, with Doe's soldiers said to be retreating toward Monrovia.

Dozens of cars lined up for gasoline in the capital. There were fistfights at some gas stations. Taxi drivers said there were reports that a gas shortage would worsen because no new supplies were expected before the end of the week.

The government tried to end the panic in a state radio broadcast, reassuring residents that plenty of gasoline was available.

Food also is in short supply, particularly the staple diet of rice, which has risen from the official price of $35 Liberian to $58 for a 100-pound sack within a week.

Two government ministers have been sent to London, according to Doe, to negotiate the purchase of more rice.

At the extreme north of the capital, dozens of soldiers were seen leaving with their families. They were trying to get rides on taxis and vans heading to Sierra Leone.

Liberians said they were cheered by the expected arrival of 2,000 Marines being sent in case the 2,000 remaining U.S. citizens and other nationals have to be evacuated. Last month, about 6,000 were in the country but most chose to leave as the fighting worsened, U.S. Embassy officials said.

There were no visible signs of defenses being set up in the city against a possible rebel attack, and speculation arose that Liberia's leader may be preparing to flee.

Diplomats said they were closely watching the presidential Fokker jet stationed about 5 miles from the city center.

Diplomats say a high desertion rate has helped shrink the Liberian army, which was believed to number 4,500 at the beginning of the conflict, to roughly 3,000 to 4,000 fighters, about as many as the rebels.

by CNB