Liberia's army says it has launched a heavy counter-attack to drive rebels from the second city of Buchanan. Its fall dealt a big blow to embattled President Charles Taylor. "Right now we are fighting in central Buchanan. They are not making it easy, but our men are beating them back," Defence Minister Daniel Chea told Reuters by satellite phone as bursts of gunfire resounded in the background.
| Gee, I hope he's lying... |
There was no immediate independent confirmation of where the fighting had reached on the ground. Rebels known as Model, Liberia's smaller insurgent faction, said they had seized Buchanan, a major port, which is less than 100 kilometres from the main international airport. Buchanan's fall left the government without access to a sea port.
| So no last image of Chuck, wearing dinner dress, disappearing into the sunset, driving a speedboat... |
The capture came as Liberia's main rebel faction, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), battled Mr Taylor's forces in the capital Monrovia. |