Liberia: Liberian troops battled yesterday to repel a fresh rebel onslaught near the centre of the capital after President Charles Taylor vowed his forces would fight to the last man.
At least five people were killed when one of a hail of mortar bombs slamming into the city landed among terrified residents just a few hundred metres from the US embassy, which took some stray bullets, said witnesses.
Tens of thousands of people had flocked to the heart of the city in search of sanctuary, distraught that promised regional peacekeepers had failed to show in time to prevent a third rebel assault on Monrovia in little more than a month.
On Saturday, Mr Taylor accused the US of having "blood on its hands" because it urged him to step down while he was trying to beat back the rebels. Washington says a small US peacekeeping force may be deployed once Mr Taylor leaves.
Government troops said they had fended off advancing rebels from the key Gabriel Tucker bridge, the gateway to central Monrovia. Witnesses said there was heavy fighting around the bridge and another crossing point into the heart of the city.
"Our men have advanced across the bridges now to Vai Town and they have pushed the rebels back. They are still advancing," said Defence Minister Mr Daniel Chea.
The loyalist forces were also battling rebels who tried to take a road that cuts around the back of the city to the area where Mr Taylor has his residence and towards the road leading to the main airport, said Mr Chea.
At least 20 civilians had been killed in the fighting on Saturday, he said, but there was no way to confirm that. Hundreds were killed in two failed rebel assaults on Monrovia last month.
"This is really the worst case scenario," said one foreign aid worker. "We are looking at the possibility of fighting inside the city and the closing of any escape routes for Taylor, leaving him with no choice but to fight." On Saturday, rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) broke through Monrovia's northern districts, firing a hail of mortar bombs on to the city. LURD accused Mr Taylor in a statement yesterday of attacking its positions in violation of a June 17th ceasefire signed in Ghana,saying he wanted to force his way into LURD-held territory to bury his mother, who died last month.
"But rather than openly expressing that intent and thus making it the subject of some compromise, Mr Taylor would rather cause - and has caused - the deaths of other people's mothers in order to honour the dying wishes of his," LURD said.
Mr Taylor vowed on Saturday to resist the rebels, reiterating his pledge not to leave Liberia until peacekeepers have been deployed. Nigeria has offered him asylum.
"We must fight and we will continue to resist to the very last man until these murderers stop killing you, our people, he said on his own Kiss FM radio station.Monrovians also fear looting by unruly fighters with little left to lose now that Taylor has promised to step down in the hope of ending nearly 14 years of violence. - (Reuters)
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