Military

DATE=07/21/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-305645

TITLE=LIBERIA / FIGHTING (L UPDATE)

BYLINE=SARAH SIMPSON

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

/// UPDATES CR 2-305633 ///

INTRO: Fighting is raging for a third day in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, with intense shelling reported near the U-S embassy in the city. Though there are no reports of casualties inside the embassy compound, at least six people have been reported killed in the vicinity of the embassy. Sarah Simpson has more details from our office in Abidjan.

TEXT: It is not clear whether the U-S Embassy is being specifically targeted or simply caught in the cross-fire between rebel and government forces.

The compound is in the rebel-occupied northern section of Monrovia, which thousands of civilians have come to, in hope of fleeing the fighting.

Many foreign personnel have taken refuge in the U-S embassy itself. More than 40 U-S Marines have been sent from Spain to help protect the embassy, but the fighting near the embassy has delayed their arrival. However, a small number of U-S troops did succeed in getting into the diplomatic compound Monday.

The rebels want President Charles Taylor out of office and out of the country immediately. Mr. Taylor has agreed to leave the day an international peacekeeping force arrives in Liberia, but not before. In the meantime he has promised to fight the rebel advance until the last man.

Washington has said it will consider sending U-S peacekeepers to Liberia, but only after regional forces are on the ground.

This is the third serious assault by rebels on Monrovia since June. Tens of thousands of civilians have converged on the city in a bid to escape the fighting.

The United States and other countries are urging both sides to seek a solution through negotiations to avoid further suffering by the Liberian people. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/KL/FC