Liberia calls state of emergency

President Charles Taylor said the existence of Liberia is threatened

MONROVIA, Liberia -- A state of emergency has been declared in Liberia amid fears that an armed rebellion is close to the capital city.

The government said its forces had driven rebels from Kley junction, just 22 miles from the capital, the to Monrovia they have come to the city since the West African country's latest war erupted in mid-2000.

Liberian President Charles Taylor, who came to power in elections following a civil war in 1997, said in a radio address on Friday: "I hereby declare a state of emergency in the republic.

"To take this decision was a heavy task, but we are compelled to do it because of the circumstances.

"The very existence of our country is threatened by barbaric attacks of unimaginable proportions."

Rebels told Reuters in Abidjan that they were poised to strike the capital, Monrovia, which was ruined by a seven-year civil war in the 1990s that left up to 200,000 Liberians dead.

Rebel spokesman William Hanson said forces of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy expected to be in Monrovia in a week.

"We have thousands of soldiers who have the capacity to take Monrovia in 72 hours," he said. "But we want to offer Charles Taylor the opportunity to resign and leave."

Taylor did not specifically mention fighting at Kley, from where refugees arriving in Monrovia said they were fleeing because of the sound of gunshots.

Tens of thousands of refugees have been camped at Kley since fleeing earlier fighting.

"We heard the sound of shooting coming from behind us," said Edith Kamara.

"We did not want to wait to see who was doing the shooting. When we heard it, we started to leave to come to Monrovia."

Other refugees said there had also been shooting at Suehn.

Diplomatic sources said Monrovia was awash with reports of rebel activity, but said it was unclear who was involved.

"Indeed there was fighting in Kley, but government troops have flushed them back," Information Minister Reginald Goodridge told reporters.

Liberia remains under U.N. sanctions -- including an arms embargo, a diamond export ban and travel restrictions on top cadres -- to stop a trade in guns for gems that helped fuel that conflict.

Taylor said in his radio address that the arms embargo had helped to encourage the latest mayhem.

"While the reign of terror goes on unabated, the international community remains mute to the plight of the Liberian people," Taylor said.