Battle for Liberian town

Battle for Liberian town

Some 30,000 have fled the latest fighting

Government troops and militiamen in Liberia have been fighting rebels for control of the northern town of Gbarnga.

The town was captured by rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) on Friday.

Government forces were said to be back in the town again on Sunday.

The military situation is described as fluid by the BBC 's reporter in the area, Jonathan Paye-Leyleh.

Lurd has been trying to overthrow Mr Taylor's government since 1999.

Our correspondent says up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.

Many of them have arrived by foot at camps in Totota, some 40km south-east of Gbarnga.

"We are running from fire," a middle-aged lady told our reporter carrying a jerry can of water and baby on her back.

Key area

Gbarnga was once the headquarters of the now defunct rebel movement of President Charles Taylor.

Lurd rebels met little resistance when they took control of the town on Friday morning..

They had been engaged in intense fighting with government forces on the northern highway leading to Gbarnga for nearly a week before then

The capture of the town caused panic in the capital, Monrovia.

Refugees arriving in Monrovia on Saturday said well-armed rebels had set ablaze many buildings in Gbarnga.

Civilians arriving in Totota late on Sunday said they passed government forces heading for Gbarnga.

Defence Minister Daniel Chea told our reporter by telephone on Sunday: "Our forces are now operating inside of Gbarnga."

"In about two days' time I see no reason why traffic should not resume into Gbarnga," he said.

"When we say we are operating in certain places, we mean it."