Liberia fighting erupts again

Liberia (MNN)–Gunfire and explosions erupted in Liberia’s capital even as a new UN peace mission took control this week.

Insurgents and government forces opened fire as the top rebel leader made his first entry into Monrovia to meet with new President Moses Blah.

Liberia has been embroiled in a civil war for four years, with rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) fighting to overthrow the government.

Last month President Charles Taylor ceded power to his deputy Moses Blah, who will himself hand over power this month.

World Vision’s Paul Sitnam, speaking from Liberia, says their teams are watching security measures carefully. “We made some tentative forays into where the fighting was and the areas beyond, and all appears calm, so some workers are at health clinics where there’s not much danger.”

At least half a million Liberians are described as displaced, according to Word Vision. Sitnam says they share the hope of Christ through their humanitarian efforts. “Our work still continues, it hasn’t been completely cut off. People can keep praying for us in that manner, that we make the right judgments, conditions here improve, and that we can go out and do our work.”