MIDDLE EAST BRIEF xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FOR 30 MAY 1990.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005302071
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2009
• Case Number: F-2007-00156
• Publication Date: May 3, 1990

F-- APPROVED FOR RELEASED DATE: 09-02-2009 OIR/DB OUTGOING FRP: , PAGE 001 TOT: 300751Z MAY 90 DIRECTOR 229250 RECENT REBEL PRESS CLAIMS THAT THE FINAL OFFENSIVE HAS BEGUN, DESPITE APPARENT REBEL SETBACKS AS ARMY RESISTANCE HAS STIFFENED FOR THE MOMENT, ARE FUELING PANIC IN MONROVIA. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REBELS ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY THAT THEY HAD LAUNCHED ATTACKS ON ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL AIRFIELD AND THAT A MARCH ON THE CAPITAL WAS IMMINENT. HE ALSO ASSERTED THE REBELS ALREADY HAD TAKEN THE TOWN OF KAKAT NTROLLED BOTH BUCHANAN AND GBARNGA. cue (b)(1) (b)(3)  c-~nn ~T %J &m%09 116m ? MANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OTHERS IN THE CAPITAL HAVE BECOME ALARMED BY THE REBEL PRONOUNCEMENTS AND BY THE PROXIMITY OF THE RECENT FIGHTING. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, 2,000 LIBERIANS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE UN BUILDING IN MONROVIA DEMANDING INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION. RUMORS ARE RAMPANT THAT ROBERTS AIRFIELD HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY REBELS. MASSIVE LINES FORM DAILY OUTSIDE THE FOREIGN ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT DOE STILL INTENDS TO STAY IN LIBERIA AND FIGHT, A VARIETY OF REPORTING INDICATES THAT HE--AND MANY OF HIS FELLOW KRAHN COHORTS AND SOLDIERS--MAY TRY TO RETURN TO THEIR TRIBAL HOMELAND IN GRAND JIDE. DOE HAS SAID THAT, IF THE SITUATION IN MONROVIA DETERIORATES FURTHER, HE WOULD RETURN TO HIS HOME RATHER THAN SEEK EXILE OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. CLOSE TO 1,000 KRAHN SOLDIERS OF THEIR PAST VICTORIES AND BY A GROWING BELIEF THAT FOREIGN BACKERS. SUCH AS IVORY COAST, WILL INCREASE THEIR ASSISTANCE ONCE THE REBELS APPEAR TO BE CLOSING IN ON THE CAPITAL. C S S A G E