Gunfire rattles outskirts of Liberia's besieged capital

MONROVIA, Liberia -- Gunfire and explosions rattled the Liberian capital Tuesday, as the weakened government bowed to international pressure and said it was ready to resume talks with rebels besieging the city.

The rebel offensive is the most intense yet in a three-year campaign to drive out President Charles Taylor, who now controls very little territory outside the capital.

Liberians fear a bloody battle for the city of 1 million, repeatedly overrun during seven years of devastating factional fighting from which Taylor emerged the strongest warlord and went on to win 1997 presidential elections.

Peace negotiations in Ghana between the government and two rebel groups were postponed Monday because of the fighting. But Liberia's defense minister, Daniel Chea, said he would return there on Wednesday to resume the talks.

His announcement came after repeated appeals by the United Nations, West African mediators and the United States for a cease-fire to allow negotiations to proceed. The Liberian government insists that rebels first withdraw to their previous positions.

U.S. Ambassador John Blaney met with President Charles Taylor on Tuesday to make clear the need for an immediate end to fighting in Liberia, a country founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

"I'm hopeful after this meeting and pretty confident that the government of Liberia is going to move forward now with alacrity and commitment at the peace table," Blaney said.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, executive secretary of the regional bloc mediating the talks, and Ghana's foreign minister, Nana Akuffo Addo, were also expected in Monrovia to meet with Taylor, but their plane was delayed by bad weather.

The two mediators were in Guinea on Tuesday, where they discussed the Liberian crisis with Prime Minister Lamine Sidime. Guinea was accused in a recent U.N. report of supporting the insurgents.

Frightened residents took advantage of a brief lull in fighting Tuesday morning to stock up on food. Bread, milk and sugar disappeared from the shelves as people lined up at tiny, ramshackle stores.

"It's no time to be choosy," said Sarah Menoh, 41, as she waited patiently for her chance at one store's dwindling stocks. "Whatever can enter the stomach is good to have."

Fighting broke out again in the afternoon, sending people racing back to their homes. Residents reached by telephone in Monrovia's northwestern suburbs said they could hear the rattle of small-arms fire and intermittent explosions.

"If we go on like this for more than two weeks, the suffering will become untold," said James Kollie, 35. "Our actual plight seems to be unheard of outside of Liberia."

On Monday, French helicopters swooped in Monday to rescue 535 Europeans, Americans, Lebanese and other foreigners who had gathered overnight at the European Union and U.S. Embassy compounds. They were taken to a French warship, which was headed Tuesday to neighboring Ivory Coast.

France has a heavy presence in West Africa, where many nations were once French colonies.

Pentagon officials said Tuesday the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, which is currently in the Atlantic heading for its home port in Virginia, had been notified it could be diverted to the region if necessary. The ship carries about 2,000 Marines as well as landing craft, helicopters and other gear for missions such as evacuating civilians from war-torn areas.

The U.S. European Command also has sent a small military team to the area to enhance American abilities to monitor the situation in Liberia, officials said.

Liberian soldiers claimed to have repelled the latest rebel push into the city.

Chea said his troops again controlled the bridge over the St. Paul's River, marking Monrovia's outer boundary. But fighting continued in nearby Brewerville, less than 12 miles from downtown Monrovia.

Chea said about 25 government soldiers and 70 rebels were killed in the clashes, which also claimed the lives of scores of civilians. The figures could not be independently verified.

Fighting between Taylor's forces and advancing rebels has raged for days on the outskirts of Monrovia, causing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

The insurgents have overrun camps housing some 100,000 people displaced by previous rounds of fighting -- including 15,000 Sierra Leone refugees. Many fled into the city center, but the fate of those who stayed behind rebel lines was unknown, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday.

The rebels gained momentum last week when a joint U.N.-Sierra Leone court charged Taylor with war crimes for allegedly aiding Sierra Leone's notorious rebels.

Outside the E.U. compound Tuesday, about 300 Ivory Coast nationals clamored for sanctuary. Bit by bit, some were allowed inside.

Ghana said it was sending three military jets and a naval ship to evacuate its nationals from Liberia.

In Manila, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said two Filipino brothers and several Lebanese nationals were taken hostage by Liberian rebels who were demanding $100,000 for their freedom. It was not immediately clear when or where they were captured.

Varney Tasawe. They include Mohamed Ibn Chambas, executive secretary of the regional bloc mediating the talks, and Ghana's foreign minister, Nana Akuffo Addo.

U.S. Ambassador John Blaney met with Taylor to press international demands for a truce.

"We discussed the urgency of stopping the fighting," Blaney said. "I'm hopeful after this meeting and pretty confident that the government of Liberia is going to move forward now with alacrity and commitment at the peace table."

Chea said he was preparing to return to Ghana on Wednesday for the resumption of negotiations.

Tasawe said late Monday the government was willing to suspend hostilities -- but only after rebels withdraw to their former positions.

The rebels gained momentum last week when a joint U.N.-Sierra Leone court charged Taylor with war crimes for allegedly aiding Sierra Leone's notorious rebels.

Outside the E.U. compound Tuesday, about 300 Ivory Coast nationals clamored for sanctuary. Bit by bit, some were allowed inside.

Ghana said it was sending three military jets and a naval ship to evacuate its nationals from Liberia.

In Manila, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said two Filipino brothers and several Lebanese nationals were taken hostage by Liberian rebels who were demanding $100,000 for their freedom. It was not immediately clear when or where they were captured.