The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a pan West Africa economic organisation, deployed its peacekeeping forces in war-torn Liberia in the hope to end more than two months of fighting between government forces and rebels, and allow food and medicine to enter Monrovia. 200 Nigerian troops were the first to arrive at the Liberian airport as part of ECOWAS' plan to deploy about 3,250 West African soldiers in Liberia. There were also American forces offshore with three warships waiting to move in if necessary.

References:

http://www.usafricaonline.com/liberia.taylorexiled.html

http://discuss.agonist.org/smf/?board=1%3baction=display%3bthreadid=8684

http://www.usndemvet.com/blog/archives/000788.html

http://www.news24.com/News24/On_this_day/On_this_day/0,,2-1602-1492_1564137,00.html

http://www.jha.ac/articles/a027.htm