Liberia’s rebels and government picked a Monrovia businessman to lead the country’s post-war transition government, delegates told the Associated Press today after a day and night of deliberations.

IN a farewell address to his wartorn nation, President Charles Taylor declared yesterday he would "sacrifice my presidency" to stop bloodshed in Liberia.

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.

Liberia’s capital was on high alert today after the West African nation’s rebels advanced closer than ever to the city centre, killing three people at a refugee camp on the outskirts of town.