U.S. Marines in Liberian Capital Open Fire Again

MONROVIA, Liberia —  U.S. Marines protecting the American Embassy in Liberia’s capital opened fire again Monday, and sporadic shooting echoed throughout the city after the deadline passed for a truce promised by dominant faction leader Charles Taylor.

In fact, hundreds of Taylor’s militiamen and allies continued to pour into the city center Monday to increase their manpower around the besieged military training camp at the center of the battles.

The camp, held by fighters loyal to Taylor’s rival, Krahn warlord Roosevelt Johnson, has been besieged since April 6.

Late Monday, the United States warned factional fighters in the West African nation to stay away from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, saying Marine guards there would take “all necessary means” to defend the mission.

State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns issued the warning after the Marines fired several rounds in response to shots apparently directed at the embassy building during clashes between supporters of rival warlords.

Burns said no one was hurt in the embassy and that the Marine fire was not believed to have hit anyone. The Marines shot and killed three Liberian gunmen during a similar incident last week.

There are 276 Marines in Monrovia guarding the U.S. Embassy compound, part of a force of 2,900 Marines sent to the area on warships. Most remain on ships offshore.

The United States has ferried more than 2,100 people to safety from the embassy compound. Another 10,000 Liberians have sought shelter from the mayhem in a separate U.S. residential complex.

Burns called it “most regrettable” that factional leader Taylor said he will not attend an emergency summit on Liberia opening today in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

The United States last week transported Johnson to Accra, and Burns said it was ready to take Taylor too. “If he needs a lift, we’ll give him a lift. I doubt that’s the problem,” he said.

Burns warned that any factional leader’s absence from the Accra meeting would be seen in Washington as a sign of unwillingness to support peace negotiations.