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Fighting rages on liberian capital { June 25 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3018548.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3018548.stm Last Updated: Wednesday, 25 June, 2003, 11:29 GMT 12:29 UK Fighting rages in Liberian capital Rebels seeking to overthrow President Charles Taylor are approaching the port in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. Armed with rockets and mortars, they crossed the Saint Paul's Bridge just north of the city during a night of fierce fighting. The BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia, says several people have been killed by artillery shells fired into residential areas at the edge of the city. President Charles Taylor has made a radio broadcast, vowing to fight until the end and denying rumours that he had fled the city. Residents fear a repeat of the brutal street fighting seen in the city during the 1990s civil war. Correspondents say the fighting appears to have shattered a ceasefire agreed last week. We will continue to run and run - no end to our running Monrovia resident On Tuesday, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) rebels announced that they had pulled out of peace talks after President Charles Taylor said that he would not step down until next January at the earliest. Lurd, which controls some two-thirds of the country, say that Mr Taylor had agreed to leave office next month as part of the ceasefire agreement. Cholera epidemic "Shooting is going on around Freeport now... the shooting is very serious," said Doris, who fled the port area for the city centre. Monrovia is packed with hundreds of thousands of people who have fled earlier fighting elsewhere in the country. Aid agencies have made radio appeals for more blood at Monrovia's hospital. Tom Quinn, a nurse with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told BBC News Online that there is a cholera epidemic in Monrovia but he and his colleagues are unable to reach the cholera unit, where 111 people are staying, because of the fighting. "My life is no more important than yours," said Mr Taylor. "I am here with the men and women in arms, encouraging them to fight on." The BBC's West Africa correspondent, Paul Welsh, says that Mr Taylor has "nowhere to run" after an international arrest warrant was issued by the United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal in neighbouring Sierra Leone. He is accused of backing Revolutionary United Front rebels during the brutal, decade-long war which ended last year. Torn to shreds Deputy Defence Minister Austin Clark said residents fleeing the fighting were hit by shells about five kilometres (three miles) from the centre. CHARLES TAYLOR Indicted on war crimes charges Under UN sanctions Former warlord Won 1997 elections "People were torn to pieces," he said. "We will continue to run and run - no end to our running," said a woman, fleeing from the city's outskirts. Earlier this month, at least 300 people died when rebels reached within five km of the city centre before they were repelled. Elsewhere, heavily-armed government forces have been patrolling the north-eastern town of Ganta, after forcing out Lurd fighters. The rebels have used heavy fire power to try to recapture the once commercially lively city. Our correspondent says retreating rebels set on fire almost every building in the town as they left. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3018548.stm Published: 2003/06/25 11:29:28 GMT © BBC MMIII

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