Disbelief, Doubt Greet U.S. Peace Deployment After Bloody Liberia Attack

[NNN0LHI]

Wonder what comes after disbelief and doubt? Hope it ain't being pissed off.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAFF0MNKID.html

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - The bloodiest barrage in days sent shells crashing into the U.S. Embassy grounds and a school packed with refugees in the rebel-besieged capital Friday - leaving people wondering why a long-awaited U.S. peace deployment was coming only after so high a toll.

President Bush's order of ships and troops to Liberia's coast was broadcast over the radio here as refugee families gathered broken bodies of men, women and children. All were victims of a daybreak mortar attack that killed at least 26 and wounded more than 200.

"Why so late, when people are dying?" Momo Barley asked in the streets around the U.S. Embassy, the densely populated, rocky hilltop neighborhood overlooking the Atlantic that took the brunt of Friday's 10-minute pounding by up to 20 mortar rounds.

"This is another promise again," refugee Sylvester Blamo, 30, said in the same neighborhood, as aid workers tended to lumpily filled body bags.

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