The offensive came as the Archbishop of Freetown, Joseph Ganda, and four missionaries escaped from rebels, who were holding them hostage.

Nigerian soldiers in the West African intervention force, Ecomog, are moving east from Freetown city centre while troops from Guinea are approaching the eastern suburbs from the other side.

Nigerian officers say the rebels are trapped.

West Africa Correspondent Mark Doyle: "Burning homes and mutilating people"

Nigerian fighter-bombers were also reported to be attacking rebel hideouts in mountains east of Freetown.

Rebel forces are responding with a scorched earth policy, burning homes and mutilating civilians, says BBC West Africa Correspondent Mark Doyle.

Over the last few days at least 1,300 bodies have been collected for burial from the streets of Freetown.

Some were caught in the crossfire between rebels and Ecomog. Others were killed by the retreating rebels.

Archbishop's freedom

Nigerian troops led the battle for Freetown

As rebels moved positions, the Archbishop of Freetown and four priests managed to escape from their captors.

Archbishop Ganda said: "We're happy to be alive but there are others still there with the rebels. We're praying for them."

He was abducted in the city more than a week ago during fighting between the rebels and Ecomog forces.

One of the priests told the BBC they managed to get away as the rebels were trying to move them.

Food aid

In Freetown, aid workers are attempting to get food to the thousands displaced in the fighting.

The Council of Churches of Sierra Leone is trying to distribute food from stocks owned by various international groups, including United Nations World Food Programme and Catholic Relief Services.

The Council says 17,000 displaced people gathered at Freetown's main football stadium to get a share of the food aid.

Foreign aid workers were evacuated to escape the three-week battle for Freetown.