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Liberian rebels capture second-largest city
Monrovia, July 29: Rebels have captured Liberia`s second-largest city of Buchanan, defeating President Charles Taylor`s embattled forces on a new front and depriving him of his last significant port outside the besieged capital.
Monrovia, July 29: Rebels have captured Liberia's second-largest city of Buchanan, defeating President Charles Taylor's embattled forces on a new front and depriving him of his last significant port outside the besieged capital.
Yesterday's capture of the strategic city of Buchanan,
100 kilometres southeast of Monrovia, the capital, came as
deliberations on a peace mission for the West African nation
showed no sign of progress.
Rebel forces now hold more than 60 per cent of Liberia, grinding down Taylor's forces in their three-year battle to oust him.
Gen. Benjamin Yeaten, a leading government commander, confirmed that Buchanan fell to fighters from Liberia's second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, by nightfall.
Yeaten said government troops remained on the outskirts of the city and were planning a counterattack.
Taylor's forces took off running as rebels advanced into Buchanan, said John Mensah, a resident reached by telephone there, who added the rebels were "now in complete control of Buchanan."
During the rebel takeover, the Buchanan office of the international humanitarian group Merlin was looted, according to Merlin office workers in the capital.
The attack and quick victory at Buchanan came as Liberia's leading rebel movement, Liberians united for reconciliation and democracy, pressed its bloody nine-day-old siege of Monrovia, in fighting that has killed hundreds. Bureau Report
Rebel forces now hold more than 60 per cent of Liberia, grinding down Taylor's forces in their three-year battle to oust him.
Gen. Benjamin Yeaten, a leading government commander, confirmed that Buchanan fell to fighters from Liberia's second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, by nightfall.
Yeaten said government troops remained on the outskirts of the city and were planning a counterattack.
Taylor's forces took off running as rebels advanced into Buchanan, said John Mensah, a resident reached by telephone there, who added the rebels were "now in complete control of Buchanan."
During the rebel takeover, the Buchanan office of the international humanitarian group Merlin was looted, according to Merlin office workers in the capital.
The attack and quick victory at Buchanan came as Liberia's leading rebel movement, Liberians united for reconciliation and democracy, pressed its bloody nine-day-old siege of Monrovia, in fighting that has killed hundreds. Bureau Report