Reports from Sierra Leone say armed groups loyal to the government have been deployed along one of the main roads leading to the capital, Freetown.

It follows a series of rebel attacks on villages east of the city.

The pro-government militias -- known as kamajors -- were mobilised in an effort to ward off further attacks by the rebels, who support the ousted military regime.

Earlier, troops form the West African Intervention Force -- ECOMOG -- were reported to have inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels in fighting in the north of the country.