Northern town devastated by fire

Voinjama, the northern Liberian city that is the scene of intense fighting between government and rebel forces, has been devastated by fire, Information Minister Joe Mulbah said on Thursday. AFP quoted him as saying the fires started after government forces launched their drive against dissidents in the town. It was unclear whether or not the fires were the result of a deliberate scorched earth policy by the dissidents, a diplomat in Monrovia told IRIN on Friday. The government has not released figures for casualties and prisoners of war. However a Monrovia newspaper, ‘The Inquirer’, reported on Tuesday that 16 dissidents had been captured. The diplomat told IRIN that details of the fighting were “very difficult” to verify because nobody had access to the battle area. Moreover, roads are pretty much impassable in the area because of the rains and the hilly terrain.