Fleeing refugees reported vicious attacks today as Liberia’s second rebel group began pressing toward the capital.

WEST AFRICAN military officers searched for camp sites and made other preparations yesterday for the long-promised deployment of peacekeepers to Liberia’s rebel-besieged capital.

DOZENS of civilians have been killed in fighting between rebels and President Charles Taylor's forces for control of Liberia's second city of Buchanan, residents said yesterday.

Liberia’s biggest rebel group called yet another ceasefire today, but insisted they would maintain the siege of the capital Monrovia until peace troops arrive.

Government forces launched a major counterattack today on the key port of Buchanan, battling to take back Liberia’s second city a day after it fell to rebels.

REBELS attacked government forces in Liberia’s second-largest city yesterday, stepping up war against President Charles Taylor on a second front as insurgents in Monrovia pressed their siege of the bloodied capital.

Rebels captured Liberia’s second-largest city today, defeating President Charles Taylor’s embattled forces on a new front and depriving him of his last significant port outside the besieged capital.