Liberia rebels want peace talks

Liberian rebels fighting the government of President Charles Taylor, have said that they are willing to hold peace talks with government or opposition officials.

However the group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), has ruled out any discussions with Mr Taylor or his key aides, claiming that he is not a democratic leader.

Mr Taylor declared a state of emergency in February

A rebel spokesman said he wanted the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to organise the talks "at the earliest convenience."

The announcement follows a lull in fighting over the past 10 days.

Spreading the war

Military sources have told the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia that the rebels have not made any fresh moves since their last attack on the old iron ore mining town of Bong Mines, some 80 km (50 miles) north-east of Monrovia.

The rebels are said to have pulled back into their strongholds in the remote parts of northern Lofa County, a region on the border with Guinea.

The rebels began their invasion in Lofa before spreading their war to outlying counties, such as Gbarpolu, Bomi and Bong.

The lull comes in the wake of frantic efforts by the Liberian civil society and opposition politicians, like Mr Togba Nah-Tipoteh of the Liberian People's Party, to organise talks between the rebels and the government.

Hopes for democracy

Mr Charles Bennie, the Lurd spokesman, told the BBC's Focus on Africa that he was responding to Mr Na-Tipoteh's call.

He said that despite the recent lull, the rebels are still holding their positions in other parts of Liberia.

Mr Bennie said that he hoped that an Ecowas-initiated conference would discuss the foundation of an interim government, that will lead the country to a democratic process.