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Thousands flee Monrovia as rebels close on city centre
Monrovia, July 25: Thousands of terrified civilians have streamed out of the liberian capital Monrovia in search of safety, food and water as fighting raged between government troops and rebels for control of three key bridges.
Monrovia, July 25: Thousands of terrified civilians
have streamed out of the liberian capital Monrovia in search
of safety, food and water as fighting raged between government
troops and rebels for control of three key bridges.
Food shortages in the city are growing more acute,
drinking water is scarce and the top UN coordinator for
Liberia has warned that "one of the worst humanitarian
tragedies in the region" is impending.
The fighting between troops loyal to president Charles Taylor and rebel forces is concentrated on three strategic bridges -- Stockton Creek bridge linking the rebel-held port with the airport, and Johnson and old bridges leading to the city centre. "We're defending our positions on the bridges," Defence minister Daniel Chea said. "There's a very thin line between our forces and theirs." Rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) succeeded in crossing Stockton Creek bridge on Wednesday evening and penetrated 800 metres into loyalist lines before withdrawing across the river, according to General Roland Duo, commander of the government troops.
The capture of the Stockton Creek bridge on Somalia drive ringing the capital to the north would enable the LURD to link up with comrades who seized the city's Atlantic seaport on Saturday.
Large numbers of government soldiers could be seen on Somalia drive as pickup trucks loaded with fighters roared off toward the front, two kilometres to the west. Stray rounds whistled in the distance.
Bureau Report.
The fighting between troops loyal to president Charles Taylor and rebel forces is concentrated on three strategic bridges -- Stockton Creek bridge linking the rebel-held port with the airport, and Johnson and old bridges leading to the city centre. "We're defending our positions on the bridges," Defence minister Daniel Chea said. "There's a very thin line between our forces and theirs." Rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) succeeded in crossing Stockton Creek bridge on Wednesday evening and penetrated 800 metres into loyalist lines before withdrawing across the river, according to General Roland Duo, commander of the government troops.
The capture of the Stockton Creek bridge on Somalia drive ringing the capital to the north would enable the LURD to link up with comrades who seized the city's Atlantic seaport on Saturday.
Large numbers of government soldiers could be seen on Somalia drive as pickup trucks loaded with fighters roared off toward the front, two kilometres to the west. Stray rounds whistled in the distance.
Bureau Report.