VOA News
28 Jun 2003, 07:21 UTC
Liberian President Charles Taylor has claimed victory in the latest battle against rebels seeking to capture the capital, Monrovia.
In a radio address late Friday, Mr. Taylor said government troops had driven the rebels from the city after four days of intense fighting. He also appealed to the international community, particularly the United States, to intervene and help stop the violence.
Earlier Friday, the main rebel group declared an immediate cease-fire after days of fighting, saying the truce was meant to allow delivery of aid to civilians.
But the rebels also said they will retain the right to fire if fired upon. It is unclear if the government has agreed to observe the rebels' truce.
The latest upsurge in fighting has killed hundreds of people in Monrovia and driven thousands of others from their homes as they seek to avoid the violence.
In neighboring Ghana, West African mediators announced a suspension of peace negotiations as a result of the latest upsurge in violence. Meanwhile, calls are growing for an intervention force in Liberia.
Earlier this week, Britain's U.N. Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock proposed the United States lead such an operation.
During a speech in Washington Thursday, President Bush urged President Taylor to step aside to avoid further bloodshed.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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