At least one Liberian rebel fighter was killed on Wednesday when a convoy escorting a rebel leader came under attack in an eastern district of the capital, Monrovia, eyewitnesses said.
Sekou Damate Conneh, leader of the main rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), was on his way to see President Moses Blah when his convoy came under attack as it crossed a district known as Red Light, thus named because it sits near a major traffic interesction.
The area is home to many supporters of former president Charles Taylor, who was forced to leave office in August to be replaced by Blah.
Witnesses said civilians began throwing stones at Conneh’s convoy and his escorts opened fire.
Militiamen and government troops intervened, and one rebel was killed in the ensuing heavy fighting, and attempts were made to burn his body.
Local residents fled and regional peacekeepers were sent in to restore order, a military official said. — Sapa-AFP