Share power, Liberian leader told

Taylor controls less than half of Liberia

Liberian President Charles Taylor has been urged to share power with rebels by a senior United Nations official.

Head of the UN's refugee agency Ruud Lubbers urged government officials in Monrovia to negotiate a power-sharing agreement at talks with the rebels due in Ghana in June.

Mr Taylor "has to share power with others. It's an illusion to think otherwise," he told journalists.

Mr Lubbers' whistle-stop tour of West Africa comes as reports came in of fighting between Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) rebels and government troops in the town of Sasstown, 20 kilometres north-west of the capital.

Correspondents say rebel forces now control the majority of Liberian territory.

According to the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia sounds of gunfire echoed from the direction of the town in the causing panic among displaced people sheltering in camps in the Brewerville suburbs of the capital.

Battlefront sources told our correspondent that the rebels had broken through government command posts and checkpoints in the town of Klay, 37km from Monrovia.

Lubbers stood-up

Defence Minister Daniel Chea confirmed the fighting, but said he did not have details.

President Taylor - who did not meet with Mr Lubbers reportedly much to the UN official's disappointment - says he is ready to hold talks with the country's main rebel group.

"The situation is clear: it's a disaster," said Mr Lubbers.

"Your president makes it totally impossible. He should understand that it is going from bad to worse. We do our utmost with our bare hands," he said.

The head of the Liberian cabinet, Nelson Blamoh, says the government wants immediate talks with the rebels disarmament and elections.

Talks between the Liberian Government and the rebels are scheduled for 2 June in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

Mr Taylor says he hopes to hold elections in October.