Seven people were killed when a mortar bomb crashed into a church in the Liberian capital today, a day after President George W. Bush ordered US warships into position off the West African country.
Residents and aid workers said at least 30 seriously wounded civilians were taken to Monrovia's main hospital from the church, where scores of terrified refugees had been sheltering from fighting between government forces and rebels.
At least 23 people were killed and some 200 wounded yesterday in similar mortar attacks on two schools and near a hospital.
Heavy gunfire also resounded from areas around three key bridges where fighting between government troops and rebels bent on toppling President Charles Taylor has seesawed for more than a week.
The battle raged despite a unilateral ceasefire that was declared by the rebels yesterday shortly after Mr Bush announced US troops were on their way to take up positions off the coast of Liberia.
Liberians, who have been begging foreign troops to intervene, welcomed news of the deployment, but it was not immediately clear whether any US soldiers would go ashore.
The United Nations has joined a chorus of approval for the US's decision to send warships to Liberia, but US President George Bush has said they will only support West African peacekeepers expected to arrive next week.
UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, this morning welcomed a decision by America to deploy a number of warships off the coast of Liberia's besieged capital, Monrovia.
According to his spokesman Mr Fred Eckhart the Secretary General was hopeful that US troops would be involved in - or even lead - a West African peacekeeping force in the West African state.
But with US forces already stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon is thought to be reluctant to put combat troops on the ground, but a White House spokesman left the option open.