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Liberian government troops on Tuesday recaptured the town of Tubmanburg, northwest of the capital, Monrovia, from rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy LURD), the government has reported.
President Charles Taylor on Monday announced that his forces would retake the town within 72 hours from LURD-control. Taylor had paid a visit to Klay, near Tubmanburg, news agencies reported.
"My general commanding the front, Lt-Gen Benjamin Yeaten, has assured me that within 72 hours, Bomi will be cleared. We are going to chase these terrorists out of this region to bring some relief to our people," agencies quoted Taylor as saying.
A diplomatic source in Monrovia said, despite the government's announcement, there was no independent confirmation. "The retake is unconfirmed independently. It is true, though, that there was fighting in that area."
Meanwhile LURD officials attending a meeting in Burkina Faso told IRIN on Tuesday they are not ready for peace talks until Taylor is removed from power.
"We are not just fighting to fight. We are fighting to remove Mr. Taylor from office" Laveli Suppuwood, LURD vice-president said. The LURD have been fighting since 1998.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
