Over 600 People Killed in Liberian Capital: Report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Over 600 People Killed in Liberian Capital: Report

More than 600 civilians have been killed in Liberia's capital Monrovia in fighting between rebels and government troops in the past few days, according to a Reuters report Tuesday.

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More than 600 civilians have been killed in Liberia's capital Monrovia in fighting between rebels and government troops in the past few days, according to a Reuters report Tuesday.

"The death toll is well over the 600 civilians dead," Liberia'sDefence Minister Daniel Chea was quoted as saying.

At least 90 people were killed in heavy shelling in Monrovia on Monday alone as rebels and government forces loyal to President Charles Taylor fought for control of the capital.

More than 360 people were reportedly wounded in the fighting, which appeared to be the bloodiest single day of fighting in three rebel attempts to take Monrovia in the past two months.

The rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) vowed to carry their fight until they control the capital, as President Taylor has refused to step down or leave the country despite an offer of asylum from Nigeria,.

After UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Washington and west African states to deploy troops in Liberia, Nigeria said Monday itwas ready to deploy a 776-strong mechanized infantry battalion ahead of a peacekeeping force pledged by the Economic Community ofWest African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc.

Earlier in the day 41 soldiers from a US naval "anti-terrorism security team" arrived in Monrovia to help guard the US embassy.

US President George W. Bush said recently after a meeting with Annan that the United States would only send troops after the ECOWAS force was deployed and after Taylor gives up power.

The Liberian civil war, which lasted about 15 years and claimedat least 200,000 lives, flared up again in 1998 following attacks launched by the LURD rebels in northern Liberia.

Civil war over the past decade has made Liberia among the most miserable places in the world and the latest unrest since 1998 hasforced some 300,000 Liberians to flee to neighboring countries andclaimed thousands more lives.

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