
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990                   TAG: 9006060480
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

U.S. NOT TO ENGAGE IN LIBERIAN STRIFE

U.S. Marines are waiting off the coast of Liberia in case they are needed to evacuate American citizens from that nation's strife, but not to support either side in the civil war, U.S. officials say.

"The U.S. military has no role to play in this conflict," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters Tuesday.

Despite pleas from embattled President Samuel Doe that the United States "come to the aid" of the Liberian people, officials in Washington reject the idea of U.S. military involvement.

"Our primary concern is protecting U.S. citizens," White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said.

In addition, though, the United States agreed to evacuate Soviet diplomats from Liberia if necessary, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said in an interview Tuesday with Hearst Newspapers.

"It hasn't been required yet, but the fact of the matter is they [the Soviets] have asked for - and we have agreed - to provide assistance to their people in Liberia," Cheney said in the interview.

Between 10 and 15 Soviet diplomats remained in Liberia, the Hearst report said.

Boucher, in a statement read to reporters, said the United States "is taking appropriate steps to assist American citizens to leave Liberia in the event that they are in more immediate danger and no longer able to leave the country by other means."

Fitzwater reported that 70 U.S. officials and about 1,200 American private citizens were left in the country.

President Bush dispatched the warships from the Mediterranean-based 6th Fleet over the weekend in case the struggle between forces loyal to Doe and those supporting rebel leader Charles Taylor bar any Americans from leaving.

The USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship; the USS Ponce, an amphibious transport dock ship; the USS Sumter, a tank landing ship; and the USS Peterson, an escort destroyer, are off the Liberian coast.

As transport or evacuation aircraft, ships like the Saipan usually carry nine CH-53 "Sea Stallion" helicopters and 12 CH-46 "Sea Knight" helicopters.

Such assault ships also carry AV-8B Harrier jets, which serve as light attack and close air support aircraft.

Norfolk, Va., is the home port of all the ships, which carry about 170 officers and about 2,100 enlisted Marines, the Navy said.

Boucher said the rebels continued to advance toward the capital of Monrovia.

by CNB