Liberian President Taylor Leaves Monrovia (to avoid meeting)

[LauraK]

West African leaders arrived in Liberia's bloodied capital under heavy military guard Friday, beginning their mission to press President Charles Taylor to step down as promised and leave his war-ruined nation for exile.

But Taylor unexpectedly left Monrovia before the meeting at his mansion, reportedly heading to the southeastern port of Buchanan, where his forces have battled rebels. It was his first known travel to a war zone outside Monrovia since the rebel siege began here in June.

The West African envoys said they would stay in the capital, nonetheless.

"We're going to wait until we can sit down and talk to him," said Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana's foreign minister, who is among five top West African officials stood up by Taylor.

More here

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1. Doesn't the US have an extradition treaty hidden somewhere?

I'd like to see Taylor bundled up and sent back here (Massachusetts) where there's an arrest warrant out for him for his jailbreak out of a MA prison.

[NYC]

2. Jailbreak out of a Massachusetts prison?

Do you have more details?

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3. As I recall ...

Taylor was accused of stealing $1,000,000 from the Liberian government of Samuel Doe. He hightailed it to the U.S. but was arrested and put in the Plymouth County jail, from whence he escaped. This was in the mid-'80s.

[Nambe]

4. President Taylor: Gained notoriety in U.S. jailbreak

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) 7/8/03

--- Taylor, who was raised in a suburb of the Liberian capital of Monrovia, went back to Liberia in 1979 after a regime change. He won a top job in the new government of Samuel Doe, but was charged with embezzling $1 million as head of Liberia's General Services Administration.

Taylor fled to the United States, but he was arrested and incarcerated in the Plymouth County jail.

On September 15, 1985, Taylor cut through bars with a hacksaw and climbed down a knotted sheet to gain his freedom, avoiding extradition and trial in his home country. ---

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. It is a well documented fact, that Taylor is a fugitive

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/africa/liberia/taylor-bio.html

Taylor was arrested in May of 1984, and a court in Boston determined that there were sufficient grounds to detain him while Liberia's request to send the fugitive back were considered. In September of 1985, while awaiting extradition, Taylor escaped from the Plymouth House of Corrections.

[NYC]

6. Thanks to all who described the jailbreak.

I hadn't known that.