The government of Liberia has given a one-week ultimatum to squatters residing under the Gabriel Tucker Bridge connecting Bushrod Island to Central Monrovia to vacate or face eviction.

The warning is part of ongoing exercises to remove illegal occupants from state-owned premises as well as demolition of illegal structures across the city.

Public Works Minister, Lusinee Donzo, who visited the Gabriel Tucker Bridge recently, told reporters that the squatters should have been removed last week, but President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf intervened and requested for one week to allow the illegal occupants enough time to relocate.

According to Minister Donzo, the squatters were informed several months ago to vacate the premises to give way for the demolition exercise, but most of them, predominantly woman and children, converged at the residence of the President and begged for an extension to enable them find place to relocate.

"The President was so passionate to the cry of the squatters, and has asked the Public Works Ministry to give them a grace period of one week to vacate the bridge so as to effect the demolition exercise", Minister Donzo said.

He said there was compelling need to effect the eviction because the squatters are involved in mining sand from under the bridge, an action which he warned, could have a devastated effect on the lives of those involved and the country as a whole.

Minister Donzo said following the ultimatum, the government would begin to effect the eviction without further wasting time. He disclosed that the government will assist the squatters financially to enable them relocate but did not say how much is being earmarked for each squatter.

"The leadership of the squatters will have to come to the Public Works Ministry today to discuss your compensation package", he told the rather worried squatters.

In a related development, Minister Donzxo has disclosed that some persons have begun to reside under the collapsed Tubman Bridge, commonly referred to as "old bridge", which crumbled last November.

He described the condition of the bridge as a time bomb waiting to explore and called on the police to prevent the public from carrying on any activity under there.

Meanwhile, Minister Donzo has disclosed that the World Bank has consented to reconstruct the Tubman Bridge adding, the construction is expected to start in coming months.