Liberians cheer Obasanjo

Obasanjo (l) was made a 'Paramount Chief of Liberia' by Blah (r)

Tens of thousands of Liberians have cheered the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, when he visited the capital, Monrovia, for talks with the Liberia's leader Moses Blah.

The crowd chanted "Thank you, Obasanjo" and "We want peace - no more war" as the president's convoy passed them by.

Mr Obasanjo urged the Liberian parties - the two rebel groups, Lurd and Model and government forces to work together with the regional economic body, Ecowas to secure peace in the country

If there is no peace in Liberia... there will be no peace in Africa - and if there is no peace in Africa, there will be no peace in the world Olusegun Obasanjo Nigerian president

His one-day tour included an assessment of the 1,500 Nigerian troops deployed to Liberia, which form the core of a 2,300-strong West African peacekeeping force.

Mr Obasanjo helped persuade the former Liberia's President, Charles Taylor, to resign earlier this month and to take up the offer of asylum in Nigeria.

'True saviour'

The Nigerian-led force has ended fighting in Monrovia but clashes have continued elsewhere in the country.

Mr Obasanjo urged the international community to send more troops to Liberia, saying the present numbers were "grossly inadequate".

There are some 1,500 Nigerian troops in Liberia

"If there is no peace in Liberia, there will be no peace in West Africa, if there is no peace in West Africa, there will be no peace in Africa.

"And if there is no peace in Africa, there be no peace in the world," Mr Obasanjo said.

Later at a luncheon in the presidential mansion, the Liberian Government gave Mr Obasanjo the title of "Paramount Chief of Liberia", as Mr Blah described him as "the true saviour of Liberia".

Mr Blah reiterated his commitment to peace, stressing that he would not remain in power as an interim leader "one day in power after October 14".