Resurgence of fighting in the north

Liberia's Defence Ministry has confirmed reports of intense fighting since Friday between government forces and dissidents in the north and northwest of the country. A ministry official told IRIN that fighting occurred in Belle Fassama and Belle Baloma, some 200 km northwest of Monrovia. The official, who declined to be identified by name, said that there was also fighting in Geingbai, about 120 km north of Monrovia. AFP reported that government troops and the dissident Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, were fighting for control of the northern provincial town of Voinjama, and two other localities, Massambolahun and Kolahun. The Defence Ministry official declined to comment on casualties and the battlefield situation. "I can't give you an account of the current situation," he said. Defence Minister Daniel Chea recently told reporters that government forces were hard pressed to defeat the rebels because of an international ban on weapon sales to Liberia. He said unless the embargo was lifted, the rebels could defeat the army within one month. The current fighting notwithstanding, a humanitarian source in Monrovia told IRIN no new population displacements had been detected anywhere in the country. However, the official said it was "very difficult" to know what was going on in the present combat zone.