LIBERIA'S rebels have pushed down a major highway towards the capital Monrovia, aid workers said yesterday as thousands of civilians fled the latest clashes, casting doubt on an increasingly rocky peace deal.

LIBERIA’S week-old peace deal appeared under growing pressure yesterday after a weekend of ceasefire violations and an unconfirmed radio report of a massacre of 1,000 people in the remote and lawless Nimba County.

THE Liberian government accused rebels yesterday of mounting a fresh offensive and US helicopters prepared for a mission outside the capital Monrovia to help peacekeepers move into rebel areas.

WEST African peacekeepers were to mount their first patrol of war-ravaged Monrovia as President Charles Taylor appeared to stall for time before going into exile in Nigeria.