MONROVIA -- An emergency session of the Liberian parliament Thursday overwhelmingly endorsed President Charles Taylor's decision to step down and hand over power to Vice President Moses Blah.

The motion was approved by 46 votes to one.

The lawmakers also approved of Taylor's decision to transfer power on Monday to his deputy Blah, in line with the constitution.

Taylor, who shunned the special session, told lawmakers in a three-page message he was the victim of an "international conspiracy" -- a reference to UN sanctions and an arms embargo slapped on his regime since 2001, which prevented him from fighting a rebel onslaught on his capital.

"They have prevented me from carrying out my constitutional responsibility of defending the country, providing essential social services to the people," he told AFP. "Therefore, I the president of this noble republic, can no longer preside over the suffering and humiliation of the Liberian people. The massive loss of property and the humanitarian catastrophe is unacceptable. Liberia today stands on the threshold of survival."

"We are convinced that we are not the problem in Liberia," Taylor said using the royal plural and stressed that the government was not to be "blamed solely for the state of affairs.

"Nevertheless, we are constrained by a responsibility placed on us by the constitution of Liberia to honor the sacred heritage of our forefathers and do hat is right for the survival of this republic," he said.