Taylor warned of losing exile offer

Civilian casualties continue to rise in Liberia's humanitarian crisis

The United Nations special envoy to Liberia has warned that if the country's President, Charles Taylor, delays his departure too long he could lose the chance of escaping into exile.

"He's been provided a safe haven in Nigeria, but I'm afraid if he plays around too long that he may very well lose that opportunity as well," Jacques Klein said in a BBC interview.

"He's a psychopathic killer so we don't know when he's going to resign or what he's going to do," Mr Klein told the World This Weekend programme.

Mr Taylor has said he will step down as president on 11 August - but it is not clear when or if he is going to leave for Nigeria - potentially escaping an indictment filed by a United Nations court in Sierra Leone.

Mr Klein said Mr Taylor must face justice and not walk free once he has left the country, which has descended into chaos under his control.

"You cannot have people indiscriminately killing and looting their own people then never bring them to justice because that says to every would-be dictator and every amateur dictator that if I kill enough people and steal, then wait long enough, I'll get away with it," he said.

FORCE FOR LIBERIA 1,500 Nigerian troops to start arriving on Monday 2,000 West African troops to follow UN stabilisation force to be deployed by 1 Oct Liberia: What happens next? Peacekeeping perils

"I hope at some time that warrant would be served."

Mr Klein's warning comes as the UN's food agency WFP announced it had begun an emergency operation to airlift food aid into the capital Monrovia, flying in half a metric ton of high-energy biscuits.

Thirty tons of British aid is to be flown to Liberia later on Sunday.

'Worsening conditions'

Three hundred Nigerian peacekeepers are due to fly into Monrovia on Monday - the first contingent of several thousand West African troops scheduled to be sent to Liberia by regional grouping Ecowas.

Derelict buildings at the airport are being cleaned up to provide some accommodation for the soldiers.

"Hopefully Ecowas will be in place for two months or so, allowing us to go out with the assessment team," Mr Klein said.

He added that the US decision to wait until President Taylor has left the country before sending in troops is centred on legal issues, rather than just practical concerns.

Click below to see an interactive aerial image of Monrovia Monrovia from the air

There was more fighting between Liberian rebels and forces loyal to President Taylor on Sunday despite preparations for the arrival of peacekeepers.

The rebels have said they will not give up their positions until Mr Taylor - himself a former warlord - leaves the country.

Aid organisations have warned of worsening living conditions in Monrovia where most people are without water.

People are now at as much risk from cholera and other diseases, as flying bullets, Save the Children's Brendan Paddy told the BBC.

Aid organisations have been unable to gain access to food stocks in Monrovia's port, which is occupied by rebels.