Liberians flee rebel advance

It is the third time this month that rebels have sent the population fleeing

A huge stream of people has been moving towards the centre of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, as a rebel advance on the city appears to be gathering momentum.

The rebels from the main group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), are reported to have reached Iron Gate Junction, less than five 5 kilometres (three miles) from the city.

They are moving towards St Paul's Bridge - a crucial gateway into Monrovia.

This is the third time in a month that fighters have advanced to the edge of the city.

Everybody ran out of the clinic and it was clear if they blocked the road, we would be trapped Aid worker Tom Quinn Aid worker's diary

A top Liberian Government general told the BBC his troops were heavily outgunned by the rebels.

Hundreds of civilians have died in the fighting.

The BBC's Paul Welsh in Monrovia says the rebels have assured him that they do not intend to enter the city - simply to pile up pressure on the government of President Charles Taylor.

The Unites States has said it will consider sending troops to Liberia only after Mr Taylor steps down.

Terrified

The sound of heavy machine guns can be heard in the heart of the capital itself.

People carrying bags can be running in long columns as far as the eye can see, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Pro-government fighters are outgunned

"The sounds are terrifying. We want to move, but besides not knowing where it's safe to go to, we don't want our homes looted if we leave," said one woman.

The most senior general in Liberia's army, General Yeaten, said his men were trying their best to hold the rebels back, but have been unable to stop the advance which he says began on Wednesday.

The general commanding front line troops told the BBC he was concentrating many of his forces around the St Paul's Bridge.

The rebels crossed it twice last month and entered the suburbs where there were heavy battles with hundreds of civilians killed.

Peacekeeper calls

A UN envoy has said the United States will not take a decision on whether to send troops into Liberia until a local, West African force is in place.

The envoy, Jacques Klein, said the key thing was that troops from Ecowas - the Economic Community of West African States - should go into Liberia quickly, to end the clashes.

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Liberian Information Minister Reginald Goodrich said he wanted to see the deployment of peacekeepers promised.

"Everyone is talking about sending troops, but no one wants to send them. What is the delay?" Mr Goodrich said.

He said the fighting proved Lurd rebels were not "serious" about peace.

"[President Charles] Taylor is not the problem."

Mr Klein said Liberia's President, Charles Taylor, would be expected to go into exile - most likely Nigeria - on the day the first American troops arrived.

He expressed hope that Mr Taylor, who has been indicted by a UN-backed international war crimes court in Sierra Leone, would be prevented from meddling in the internal affairs of his country.