VOA News
21 Jul 2003, 14:04 UTC
Rebel forces fighting to overthrow Liberian President Charles Taylor are battling their way back to key bridges in the war-torn capital, as U.S. troops arrive to reinforce security at the American embassy.
Fighting raged Monday on the far side of two bridges leading into Monrovia's seaside center as the main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, renewed its assault on the capital. Mortar bombs landed in the rebel-occupied northern diplomatic quarter, where thousands of civilians from outlying areas have taken refuge.
The violence intensified as government troops vowed a fight to the death and the United States dispatched 41 Marines from Spain to prepare for the possible evacuation of U.S. citizens.
The heavy shelling and gunfire is hampering humanitarian efforts to help refugees of Liberia's nearly uninterrupted 14-year-long civil war. The French organization Doctors Without Borders said it was caring for at least 80 people caught in the crossfire during the past few days. It said the bombardment was making it difficult to transport the wounded to two makeshift hospitals for treatment.
The U.S. State Department Sunday expressed deep concern over the fighting in Liberia, calling all parties to immediately cease all military activities.
In Ghana, where rebel and government negotiators have been discussing proposals for a transitional government to replace President Taylor, the chief mediator issued his own statement calling for an end to the fighting.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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