IRIN - Rebel forces fought their way into the Liberian port city of Buchanan on Monday as they continued to battle for control of the capital Monrovia, government defence sources said. The Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) rebel group, which controls eastern Liberia, had captured the port of Buchanan, 120 km southeast of Monrovia by Monday night and was fighting government troops for control of the city centre about five km away. The sources said Defence Minister Daniel Chea had gone personally to Buchanan to lead government efforts to stem the rebel advance into Liberia’s second largest city and troop reinforcements were being rushed there by road from Monrovia.
| Good move, Dan. Gets 'em out of Monrovia. And you, too... |
Bus drivers meanwhile reported that thousands of civilians were fleeing west from Buchanan towards Harbel, a town near Robertsfield international airport which is the headquarters of the huge Firestone rubber plantation. In recent days its population has been swelled by thousands of civilians fleeing the crackle of machine gun fire and the thud of mortars elsewhere in the country.
| Crackle... thud... crackle... thud... all day long, nothing but crackle... thud. |
Heavy fighting continued in Monrovia on Monday for the 10th day running between government forces and a second rebel movement, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). LURD forces retreated from positions occupied over the weekend in the northern suburbs of Barnersville, Gardnersville and New Georgia, but retained control of Bushrod Island where Monrovia’s deep water port is situated. Government forces managed to cross two bridges over the Mesurado river linking Bushrod Island to the city centre, but failed to make much headway on the other side.
| Now we can see-saw for awhile. What're Chuck's supply lines like? What're LURD's supply lines like? |
US ambassador John Blaney appealed on Sunday for LURD to withdraw from the port and retreat to the Po river bridge on the northwestern outskirts of Monrovia and for MODEL to halt its assault on Buchanan so that a fresh ceasefire could take hold and international peacekeeping troops could move in.
| Looks like they're going for the kill, John... |
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