Rebel counter-offensive reported in Voinjama

The rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) launched a counter-offensive in northern Liberia at the weekend in a bid to recapture their former stronghold of Voinjama, but government troops warded off the attack, according to sources in Monrovia. "Over the weekend, LURD rebels launched a counter-offensive but government forces responded adequately and the attack was repulsed," a diplomatic source told IRIN on Monday from the Liberian capital. News organisations reported that it was still unclear which side held the upper hand in Voinjama. LURD rebels have fought to oust President Charles Taylor's government since 1998. Government troops recently pushed them out of Voinjama. News organisations also reported heavy fighting at the weekend in the government-held town of Zorzor. They quoted military sources as saying that much of Zorzor had been a no-man's land on Sunday because of the clashes. Zorzor and Voinjama are situated in Lofa county on Liberia's border with Guinea. At a government-organised reconciliation conference which started on 24 August but has been snubbed by LURD and opposition leaders, Taylor said he was willing to negotiate with "all opposition groups for the sake of peace and reconciliation in Liberia". However, he insisted that his government would "do anything, everything and all things to defend the country against rebels."