LIBERIAN JOURNALISTS FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES...
By Alexander Bealded
Liberia
SPECIAL RELEASE
Fear has gripped some Liberian journalists as media outlets were shut down by government security forces on Monday night. The Liberian Government ordered the closure of several television and radio stations in Monrovia for having reported clashes between the National Police and CDC partisans at their party’s headquarters. The media outlets were arbitrarily shut down without court orders. The situation has created a panic amongst journalists some of whom have fled the city for their lives.
Armed police stormed the Kings FM premises at about 11PM and held the announcer at gun point. The on-duty radio announcer was tortured for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of other staff members. The police then dismantled the station's equipment and trashed out the entire premises before shutting down the facility.
The deadly clash between supporters of the opposition CDC and the Liberia National Police was first announced on King FM. It was reported that seven CDC partisans were killed when they arrived at their party headquarters for a mass rally.
A helicopter hired by the Unity Party of President Johnson-Sirleaf for campaign activities was seen picking up dead bodies from the brutal police attack. The bodies were taken to a nearby beach in an attempt to cover-up evidence of the brutal killings. It is unclear how many bodies were picked up by the UP helicopter, but eyewitnesses said the number of dead was rising.
The Monday incident has created fear and uncertainty in the country that several polling stations barely had voting activities. Approximately fifteen percent of the 1.7 million registered voters made it to the polls nationwide.
The streets of Monrovia were deserted and election workers were seen sleeping at the polling stations.
The victory of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party is hanging in the balance as she may not obtain or exceed the five hundred thousand votes reportedly acquired in the first round of the October 11 presidential elections.
On Monday, the Congress for Democratic Change had requested its partisans to stay away from the Tuesday polls, because of alleged election fraud involving the National Elections Commission. However, international observers said that the alleged fraud was unsubstantiated and that the elections were free, fair, and transparent.
AFRICAN PANORAMA
