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Rebels declare ceasefire
29/07/2003 19:44 - (SA)
Accra - Rebels fighting for control of the Liberian capital Monrovia on Tuesday declared a unilateral ceasefire and said it would go into effect immediately, a rebel delegate to peace talks in Accra said.
The fighters of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) have been ordered to gather in the Liberian capital's seaport, which they control, the delegate told AFP in the Ghanaian capital.
"All our forces are holding back fire, they've been ordered to gather to the port," said Kabineh Ja'neh, who is representing Lurd at the peace talks.
He said Lurd leader Sekou Damate Conneh had committed to the truce in a letter sent on Tuesday to the US ambassador to Monrovia, John Blaney.
The Lurd fighters are to stay in the port area until the arrival of international peacekeepers to whom they will cede the position, Ja'neh said.
However, no date has yet been sent for the despatch of peacekeepers.
An AFP correspondent in Monrovia said that heavy weapons fire was continuing as of 14:00 around two strategic bridges into the center of the city.
Lurd has controlled the port, the west African country's largest, since July 19.
Another rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (Model), took control of Buchanan, Liberia's second largest port, on Monday. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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