Heavy fighting raged in the Liberian capital of Monrovia today as rebels made another big push to skirt around the back of the coastal city and cut off supplyroutes, residents and military sources said.
Commanders of President Charles Taylor's forces said rebelshad captured the key Stockton Creek bridge, advancing down aroad that would allow them to surround the embattled capital and home in on Taylor's residence.
|
"The rebels are on the bridge. Heavy fighting is going on,"said one commander.
Mortars slammed into the packed Gardnersville suburb, on theroute of any rebel advance, and thousands of people fled in fear of a rebel breakthrough.
Aid agencies said about 10,000 people had taken refuge at the airport 45 km (28 miles) out of town.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the city during fivedays of fighting, the most recent chapter in a three-year-old revolt against Taylor.
"All hope is gone, so whatever happens happens," saidwheelchair-bound Emmanuel Harris, protesting outside the USembassy.
"We need food, we need water, but most of all we needpeople to guard us and we want the Americans to help."
The rebels launched their second offensive after failing tosecure two key bridges leading straight into the heart ofMonrovia after days of heavy shelling.
West African security chiefs and ministers agreed toredeploy about 1,000 Nigerian troops from peacekeeping duties in Sierra Leone to Monrovia as the vanguard of a regional force, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
U.S. President George W. Bush has come under pressure tointervene in a country founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century but he is waiting for the ECOWAS force to take shape before taking a decision on any U.S. involvement.