Liberian foes sign peace deal

Rebel fighters have been pulling out of Monrovia

The warring factions in Liberia have signed a power-sharing agreement ending four years of civil war.

The deal calls for the government to share power with rebels for two years as the country prepares for elections in 2006.

The factions could begin naming members of the transtional administration as soon as Tuesday, negotiators at the talks in Ghana are reported to have said.

Meanwhile, life in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, is slowly returning to normal after the main rebel group withdrew from the port area last week.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in the city says that more shops are opening, buses and taxis are returning to the streets and business owners are starting to repair the damage from the fighting.

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A ship carrying aid to the country has sunk in a storm on its way from neighbouring Sierra Leone, the charity World Vision says.

All 22 people on board were rescued but much of the $100,000-worth of aid was lost.

Elections

The power-sharing agreement signed on Monday came after the country's main rebel group dropped its demand for the vice-presidency in a new government.

Why some Liberian fighters wear wigs and carry charms.

In pictures

West African mediators had threatened to call off the talks in Ghana unless the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) gave in.

The second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (Model) also backed the deal.

The agreement is designed to set up a transitional government that will take over in October and lead the country to democratic elections in two years' time.

Aid deal

Thousands of people went looking for work to the port, newly vacated by Lurd fighters, reports the AP news agency.

"We're experiencing peace coming to our country," said Johnson Saryee, an unemployed truck driver.

Liberians have been streaming across the former frontline

"Today is better than yesterday, the gunmen are going away - it's coming on, gradually," he said.

The opposing sides at the talks had earlier agreed to give aid organisations unfettered access to all parts of the country.

A Lurd delegate at the talks said the group was giving in on key demands for the good of the country.

The delegate, George Dweh, said: "We are doing this to show our commitment to the early resolution of the Liberian crisis.

"We want to prove to the entire world that this whole thing is not about Lurd wanting power."

On Saturday, Lurd had threatened to resume fighting if it was not given the vice-presidency and speakership.

Liberia's interim President Moses Blah walked out of the talks and flew back home in protest at the demand.

Exile

Tens of thousands of Liberians are desperately in need of food after weeks of fighting between government forces and rebels.

Enlarge Map

Liberia's former President, Charles Taylor, flew into exile in Nigeria on 11 August as part of attempts to end years of conflict.

The West African Ecomil peacekeeping force has now been on the ground in the country for almost two weeks.

On Sunday, more Nigerian troops started arriving, and Ecomil expanded the area under its control around Monrovia.

Our correspondent says the Lurd rebels were to retreat to the Po river, 20 kilometres away, but are still two or three short.

However, our correspondent says that tension remains high around the second city of Buchanan, which remains in the hands of the Model rebels.