Uncertain peace engulfs Liberian capital

The attacks raised fears that the rebels may be fighting for a share of power a day after warlord-turned-president Taylor went into exile.

Liberia's main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, signed an accord Tuesday promising to pull back completely from the capital by noon Thursday and surrender control to peacekeepers.

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The accord was "extremely important for the delivery of humanitarian relief," said US Ambassador John Blaney, - who along with military commanders of a West African peacekeeping force and a 2,300-member US Marine expeditionary force secured the pledge in a meeting with rebel leaders.

But a second rebel group began a push toward Monrovia from their stronghold in the country's southeast Tuesday.

Two rebel groups had fought for Taylor's overthrow. The larger was based in the north and widely alleged to be supported by neighboring Guinea. The smaller rebel group emerged last year, and is believed to be supported by Ivory Coast.

The Movement for Democracy in Liberia confirmed it was advancing toward Liberia's main airport, a 45-minute drive from Monrovia. Its leaders, pushing north from the southeastern port of Buchanan, claimed they were responding to attacks by Taylor's forces.Civilians fled through the bush and on the road in pouring rain, running toward Monrovia to escape attacks most blamed on the southern rebels.

"People are coming and killing," said Pauline Johnson, standing in a downpour and clutching an infant to her breast. She had run from her home without pausing to gather any possessions.

Johnson and others said rebels were attacking with machetes, killing men, women and children indiscriminately.