2nd rebel group enters fray

2003-07-28 18:14

Monrovia - Insurgents attacked government forces Monday in Liberia's second-largest city, Buchanan, stepping up the war against President Charles Taylor's forces on a second front, government forces and aid workers said.

The offensive in the southeastern city was by the Movement for Democracy in Liberia rebel movement, the smaller of Liberia's two rebel groups.

"We received attack in Buchanan," Defense Minister Daniel Chea said. "There is fighting going on there now."

Workers of the British aid group Merlin told their Monrovia office that there was gunfire in the streets of Buchanan.

The southeastern city contains the only significant port still in government hands, after rebels seized Monrovia's port July 19 at the start of their now nine-day-old siege of the capital.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled to Buchanan in recent days, escaping the fighting in Monrovia - only to find combat now in Buchanan.

US Ambassador John Blaney on Sunday said he had urged the Movement for Democracy in Liberia rebels to spare Buchanan.

The Movement for Democracy in Liberia has fewer fighters than the larger Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy movement, but is believed better-disciplined and better-armed.

Neighboring Ivory Coast is alleged to be backing the smaller rebel group, as a way of blocking incursions onto its soil by Liberian fighters.

Unlike the rebels attacking Monrovia, the southeastern-based rebels largely had heeded ceasefire pledges until recently.

Contacted in Accra, Ghana, site of off-and-on Liberian peace talks, envoys of the rebel movement said they had no immediate information on fighting at Buchanan. - Sapa-AP

- SAPA