VOA News
21 Jul 2003, 14:53 UTC
The U.S. Embassy in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, has been hit by a mortar shell as rebel forces fight to overthrow President Charles Taylor.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in the shelling, which took place Monday as a small number of U.S. troops arrived to reinforce security at the diplomatic compound. More than a dozen shells fell earlier Monday near the compound in the rebel-occupied northern section of Monrovia, where thousands of civilians have taken refuge from the fighting.
It was not clear whether government troops or rebel forces were responsible for the mortar attack or whether the embassy was under intentional attack.
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. 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.
A military spokesman said the increased security presence at the embassy is a sign of U.S. commitment to Liberia. The spokesman, Navy Lieutenant Commander Terrence Dudley, said the U.S. is strengthening security for a military assessment team that has been in the country since July 8.
President Bush has promised support for a force of at least 1,000 West African peacekeepers who are preparing to go to Liberia, but he has not said whether it will involve U.S. troops.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
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