Thousands flee Liberian fighting

Liberian President Charles Taylor says more than 35,000 people have fled their villages in Lofa County as clashes continue between government troops and rebels.

Last week Mr Taylor declared a state of emergency saying rebel forces continued to occupy the regional capital Voinjama.

The government says the rebels are supporters of former war lords from Liberia's seven-year civil conflict who are now based in neighbouring Guinea.

Guinea denies any involvement, and a previously unheard of rebel group called Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) has claimed responsibility for attacks in the area.

I urge you, my fellow Liberians, not to despair. All is not lost.

Jonathan Taylor

On Tuesday Defence Minister Daniel Chea said "fierce fighting was still going on in and around Voinjama" but that government troops had contained the advance of rebel forces.

The government has given few other details of the fighting or any casualty figures.

"Do not despair"

At a ceremony celebrating independence day on Wednesday, Presidential Affairs Minister Jonathan Taylor told Liberians not to be disheartened.

"I urge you, my fellow Liberians, not to despair. All is not lost" he said.

"Let us be unanimously resolved to never surrender our territorial integrity and peace to outside aggressors.

"Let us galvanise our resources towards resisting all external opposition forces", he said.

The Liberian Government has recently rushed additional troops to the border area, and is mobilising able-bodied men.

Eyewitnesses from Lofa County report the towns of Foya and Kolahun are heavily militarised.

Four West African leaders visited Liberia on Wednesday to celebrate its 153 years of independence.

The presidents of Nigeria, Mali, Togo and Gambia were expected to discuss the fighting with President Taylor.

Unknown rebels

The rebels' identity is unclear, though they are reported to be fighters loyal to two former Liberian civil war faction leaders, Alhaji Kromah and Roosevelt Johnson.

Several militias fought Liberia's seven-year civil war

Alhaji Kromah and Roosevelt Johnson both fought against Mr Taylor during the civil war, which ended in 1997 with Mr Taylor's election as president.

At the beginning of this year, Mr Taylor invited Mr Kromah and another rival leader, George Boley, to return from exile - but made no reference to Mr Johnson.