Mark Doyle: Rebels do not control all of the north

The government says the insurgents were routed, following Wednesday's attack on barracks near the town of Hastings, 20km from the capital, Freetown.

Information Minister Julius Spencer said the barracks were used by Ecomog, the West African intervention force which is protecting the elected government from an offensive by rebels loyal to a military junta ousted in February, 1998.

Survivors from the fighting said that a commercial airstrip near the military barracks was also attacked.

BBC West Africa Correspondent Mark Doyle reports that on Thursday the fighting in the area appeared to have stopped.

Counter-attack planned

Ecomog soliders have received reinforcements

Our correspondent says hundreds of pro-government militiamen, some armed with shotguns, others with knives and spears, were massing in the area for a probable new operation against the rebels.

Government sources say a counter-offensive will begin soon.

Nigeria, the dominant regional power which supplies most of the men defending Freetown, has sent thousands of reinforcements to swell the force estimated at 15,000 which is already in Sierra Leone.

The rebels have made significant gains in recent weeks and threatened to attack Freetown by the weekend if the government does not agree to talks.

The government and most observers agree that an attack on the capital is unlikely, but the atmosphere there remains tense. Army units are patrolling the streets, and the government has imposed a 10pm curfew.

Rebels 'trapped'

Rebels recently attacked the towns of Makeni and Lunsar

The government says the rebels who were mounting incursions near Freetown have been trapped from the rear by Ecomog troops.

The information minister also dismissed a statement made on Wednesday by the UN representative in Sierra Leone, that the whole northern half of the country was under rebel control.

Independent observers agreed with the minister that some northern towns remained under Ecomog's control.

The minister conceded, however, that an area in the centre of the country was occupied by the insurgents.

The minister said the rebels were mounting attacks near the city to try to create a negative psychological effect on the population.

Key town captured

President Kabbah - the rebels want him to step down

A rebel commander said on Tuesday that his forces would begin attacking Freetown before the weekend if the government fails to agree to immediate talks.

Earlier this week, rebel fighters advancing towards Freetown captured the central town of Lunsar, a junction point on the road to capital.

The rebels have demanded that their leader, Foday Sankoh, jailed on treason charges, be released, and they also want President Kabbah to resign.

The elected government, which was restored to power by West African troops in March, says it will not discuss power sharing with the rebels, but has offered them a limited amnesty.

Liberian offer

Liberian President Charles Taylor offered to put pressure on the jailed rebel leader to help restore peace in Sierra Leone.

"With our knowledge of Sankoh, we may be able to exert some pressure to bring about peace," Taylor said at a news conference.

"Sankoh is part of the problem in Sierra Leone and should be part of the solution," he said.