The fighting began when rebel forces opposed to the government of President Samuel Doe entered Nimba County last December and reportedly killed a number of Liberian officials and unarmed civilians. In response to this insurgency. President Doe launched an unrelenting wave of violence against the inhabitants of Nimba Countygovernment troops killed hundreds of innocent civilians without distinguishing between combatants and noncombatants. Many of the victims appear to have been targeted by government troops simply because of their ethnic ties to the insurgent forces. In addition. the United Nations High Commission for Refugees reports that 140.000 Liberiansan astounding 5 percent of the entire population of the countryhave fled the violence in Nimba County. Most have become homeless refugees in the neighboring republics of Guinea and Ivory Coast. Mr. Speaker.
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Refugees refugees