Liberia's government and rebels have signed a ceasefire at talks in Ghana, opening the way for the possible deployment of peacekeepers and full negotiations on ending West Africa's bloodiest war.
Mediators pushed for more than 10 days to get a formal deal to end fighting between President Charles Taylor's forces and rebels who want him to quit.
Together, the rebels control more than two-thirds of a country that has known little but violence for nearly 14 years.
The details of yesterday's ceasefire agreement were not made public immediately, but fighting over the past few days has raised questions over how serious the belligerents are about ending the war. Rebels and the government accused each other of launching attacks on several fronts on Monday. The clashes were well away from Monrovia, where fighting last week drove tens of thousands of people from their homes.
Still unclear is the future role for Mr Taylor - who was indicted by a UN-backed court this month for war crimes in Sierra Leone. The rebels say they do not want him to be part of any transition administration.
Mr Taylor, who was elected in 1997 after emerging victorious from a seven-year civil war that cost 200,000 lives, has said he is prepared to go when his term ends in January. He has also demanded the lifting of the war crimes indictment.
Mediators hope that once a ceasefire is agreed, monitors can mark out the ill-defined front line and peacekeepers might then deploy to prevent any return to war. The United States has come under pressure from Liberians and some foreign groups to play a bigger role, given its strong historical ties.
But US diplomats have said an assault ship due to arrive off Monrovia soon with a force of 3,000 Marines and sailors will only be used for a possible evacuation of Americans.