55. Telegram From the Embassy in Liberia to the Department of State1
8697. Dept. pass to UPI Bureau WashDC. Subject: Coup Attempt.
1. Urgent news message for relay to UPI Bureau in Wash. First lead earlier. Begin text:
A. Monrovia, Liberia (UPI)—Liberian President William Tolbert was assassinated in a pre-dawn coup by army enlisted men who seized control of the capital before dawn Saturday, citing “rampant corruption by the government.”
B. An announcement over Monrovia radio station said the coup had been led by Master Sgt. Samuel K. Doe, 28, who said, “the army will conduct the affairs of the country until a decision has been reached” about future administration.
C. Doe disclosed to the Liberian news agency that Tolbert, 66, current Chairman of the OAU had been killed. There were reports of other fatalities, but no figures were available.
D. The army sergeant said his “Army Redemption Council” seized power in the West African nation of 1.7 million people “because of rampant corruption and continuous failure by the government to effectively handle the affairs of the people.”
E. Crowds of Liberians thronged streets of the capital despite orders for a 24-hour curfew. Green-uniformed soldiers fired their weapons into the air in celebration and commandeered vehicles to ride through the streets.
F. Communications with the outside world were cut and flights in and out of the country suspended.
G. Automatic weapons fire broke out at Tolbert’s five-story official mansion housing his offices and residence about two hours after midnight. There was sporadic firing around military installations in the city until shortly after dawn and Doe announced his takeover at 6:30 a.m.
H. Doe ordered a number of senior government and military officials to report to the mansion and also requested an immediate meeting with American and Soviet diplomatic representatives at Tolbert’s former offices.
I. A broadcast asked citizens and foreign residents to remain calm. It said Tolbert’s wife had been arrested, but gave no further details.
[Page 163]J. Tolbert, who has been President since 1971 and was elected to an 8 year term in 1975, is a member of a family that has wide-spread business interests. There have been periodic allegations of conflict of interest and corruption involving government officials.
K. Sources said there were reports that opposition political figures who were jailed early in March had been freed by the army but there was no immediate confirmation. End text.
2. Please advise UPI Bureau in Washington to pick up previous and inform NY cables desk that although Kaylor cannot call out, incoming calls have gotten through. Kaylor’s number is 223916 ext. 353.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800183–0789. Unclassified; Niact Immediate.↩