President Says Rebels Are Nearly Defeated
From Times Wire Services
Liberian President Charles Taylor lifted the state of emergency he imposed eight months ago, declaring that the rebel insurrection against his government had been all but crushed.
Taylor made the announcement in a speech in which he also ended a ban on political rallies.
Taylor cited recent successes by government troops, including the retaking of the strategic northwestern town of Bopolu on Wednesday. Rebels have waged a three-year campaign to topple Taylor, a former warlord who won power in 1997 elections.
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