According to news reports, 84 members of CDC have been arrested, including 20 women and 64 men. Over three radios and TV stations have been closed for showing the death body of a pregnant woman shot and killed by security forces at CDC's headquarters.
In others news, contradictions are emerging among the Sirleaf regime officials regarding who shot at the CDC members. The Justice Minister Christiana Tah said it was CDC members who shot first before the police returned fire, while the police director said it was the army that shot at people. The security forces reportedly used the grounds of Madam Sirleaf's home to enter the grounds of CDC headquarters, and that the death toll is said to be rising with some death bodies in the custody of the police. An attempt to burry the bodies at the beach was interrupted when police began to shoot to remove the people from the beach. Some CDC members were seen assisting people on the beach to get them to their headquaters under flying bullets.
Mainwhile, CDC is describing the attack on its headquarters as an attempt to kill its presidential and vice presidential candidates. According to CDC, their presidential candidate, Winston Tubman, narrowly missed death when one of CDC members cover him with his body. That member died, while the car carrying CDC vice presidential George Weah was fired upon by security forces.
Many eyewitnesses are heaping praises on the UN peace keeping for preventing what would have become a major massacre ever seen in Liberia since the 14-year conflict. UNMIL soldiers, using their tanks placed themselves between CDC members and the Sirleaf regime security forces.
The voting turn out is said to be extremely low with some polling stations around the failing to attract any voters. Some polling stations in Monrovia receiving 2-5 votes total.
AFRICAN PANORAMA
Blood And Votes In Liberia
Blood And Votes In Liberia
NOVEMBER 9, 2011
