Liberia’s Rebels Declare New Cease-Fire

Liberia’s rebels seeking to oust President Charles Taylor declared a new cease-fire Tuesday but insisted they would not pull out of the capital Monrovia until peacekeeping troops arrive.

Rebels’ pledge fell short of U.S. demands that they leave Monrovia, opening the city’s port for vital deliveries of food and other aid.

Rebel civilian officials, in Accra, Ghana for off-and-on peace talks, have declared cease-fires throughout nearly two months of rebel attacks on the capital.

Officials’ cease-fire announcements in recent weeks have done nothing to stop fighting on the ground.

In Accra, leaders of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy movement called a unilateral cease-fire, effective immediately, rebel peace talks envoy George Dewey said.

“But as we’re talking, (as) we’re announcing an unconditional cease-fire, (President Charles) Taylor is shelling our areas,” Dewey said, pressing international mediators to win a cease-fire from Taylor’s forces as well.

Rebels would turn Monrovia’s port, now in insurgents’ hands, over to peacekeepers as soon as a long-promised multinational force arrives, Dewey said.

Rebels would then withdraw to the Po River outside the city, he said.

U.S. Ambassador John Blaney over the weekend had asked rebels to pull out of the city immediately.

The port has been the scene of battles since rebels opened their latest attack on the capital July 19. Fighting eased there Tuesday, although government and rebel forces said they were battling at cities to the north and east of the capital.