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Crowds welcome Clinton in Liberia | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US Secretary State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Liberia on the latest stage of her seven-nation African tour. | |
Despite rain, crowds lined the streets to welcome her to Monrovia where she is holding talks with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and addressing MPs. | |
The BBC's West Africa correspondent, John James, says expectations are high as many Liberians consider the US as an old friend. | |
Liberia remains crippled by the effects of a savage civil war in the 1990s. | |
Around 250,000 people were killed in the fighting and thousands of refugees continue to shelter in neighbouring countries. | Around 250,000 people were killed in the fighting and thousands of refugees continue to shelter in neighbouring countries. |
Closed chequebook | Closed chequebook |
Our correspondent says everything in Liberia, which was founded by free slaves from America more than 150 years ago, draws its inspiration from the US "motherland" - including the flag, the government and local architecture. | Our correspondent says everything in Liberia, which was founded by free slaves from America more than 150 years ago, draws its inspiration from the US "motherland" - including the flag, the government and local architecture. |
CLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde Liberia: Land of liberty? Send us your comments | CLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde Liberia: Land of liberty? Send us your comments |
But Liberian infrastructure remains in a desperate state, with electricity and water being rare commodities. | But Liberian infrastructure remains in a desperate state, with electricity and water being rare commodities. |
Our correspondent says that if Liberians imagine Mrs Clinton will come with an open cheque book, they will be disappointed. | Our correspondent says that if Liberians imagine Mrs Clinton will come with an open cheque book, they will be disappointed. |
Mrs Clinton has repeatedly called on the countries she has visited on this tour to end corruption and encourage Africans to seize the opportunities available. | Mrs Clinton has repeatedly called on the countries she has visited on this tour to end corruption and encourage Africans to seize the opportunities available. |
At her previous stop in Nigeria, she urged officials to embrace broad political reform and ease tensions that have led to sectarian violence and disrupted energy production in the Niger Delta. | At her previous stop in Nigeria, she urged officials to embrace broad political reform and ease tensions that have led to sectarian violence and disrupted energy production in the Niger Delta. |
She is due to leave Liberia late on Thursday for Cape Verde, from where she will fly home to Washington on Friday. |