Rebels attack Monrovia

Government fighters drive through the Liberian city of Ganta, about 240km from the capital Monrovia, on Monday. Ganta city is in ruins following claims by both sides of heavy fighting as clashes tore at a week-old truce in Liberia's escalating civil war. PHOTO: AP

Liberian rebels have struck into the outskirts of the capital Monrovia, sending thousands of people fleeing for safety and shattering hopes of a peaceful end to West Africa's bloodiest war.

Terrified residents said they could hear the blast of mortar bombs late into Tuesday night around St Paul's River bridge, 10km from the city center.

They said the fighting appeared to be getting steadily closer, although it was not clear whether the rebels had managed to cross the strategic bridge.

Thousands of people rushed towards the city center from the northern suburbs, fearing a repeat of fierce battles in which at least 300 people died earlier this month, when the rebels got to within five kilometers of downtown Monrovia before being pushed back.

The fighting has all but sunk a ceasefire signed by the warring sides a week ago, casting a long shadow on talks in Ghana that were supposed to lead quickly to a comprehensive peace agreement.

Each side has accused the other of repeated truce violations while negotiations have stalled over very different interpretations of the ceasefire deal.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the US "condemns all violations of the ceasefire and calls on all combatants to stop fighting immediately."

He said the US was prepared to participate in a Joint Verification Team monitoring the ceasefire, but could not do so if the truce was not respected and adequate security measures taken.

The main rebel faction, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, said in a statement it had begun operations to retake positions held before the ceasefire.

Pickup trucks full of Taylor loyalists, some high on drugs as well as adrenaline, dashed towards the front to try to counter the fresh rebel advance.

Traumatized by 14 years of nearly non-stop violence, Liberians had hoped last week's deal would pave the way for an end to a war that has devastated their country and generated an army of ruthless fighters looting and killing across the region.

But in the terrified capital, nobody has forgotten that more than a dozen deals were signed and broken during a civil war that left 200,000 dead in the 1990s.

Founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century, Liberia has known little but killing and chaos since 1989.

Its war has sent several savage offshoots into neighboring Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast.

Two rebel factions controlling 60 percent of the country are determined to get rid of Taylor, a former warlord who won the 1997 elections and has been indicted by a UN-backed court for war crimes in Sierra Leone.

Under last week's ceasefire deal, the rebels, Taylor's people and opposition politicians were to come up with an overall agreement in 30 days and discuss forming a transition government without the president.

The rebels say that means he must step down soon, but Taylor has said he will not leave before the end of his elected mandate in January and will contest future elections if he wants to.

The rebels include many of Taylor's enemies from the earlier war, a vicious struggle that exacerbated tribal divisions.

West African mediators have warned that the talks hang by a thread and the risk of a bloodbath is real.