Peacekeepers push on into Liberia's anarchy

TOTOTA, Liberia - Tens of thousands of Liberians, desperate for salvation from marauding bands of fighters, cheered West African peacekeepers on Wednesday as they rolled deep into the wrecked countryside.

Troops from Guinea-Bissau pushed on from where they deployed on Tuesday, up the road linking the capital with Ivory Coast and Guinea to reach Totota, 115km from Monrovia.

The soldiers from a 3200-strong Ecomil force came with stern warning to rebels and loyalist militiamen to respect a truce and either disarm or clear off so they can transform the whole area into a weapons-free zone.

As two truckloads of peacekeepers rolled into Totota, a pickup full of armed government militiamen sped out of town, and other fighters said they had stashed their guns for now.

"The weapons are gone. They are in the bush and we are going to go into the bush too. We won't fight, we are tired of fighting. When the peacekeepers deploy, I'm going to be friends with them," said Alfred Williams, 42, a government militiaman.

Huge crowds of people cheered, waved and reached out to touch the peacekeepers as they moved through the town of Salala, home to tens of thousands of displaced people.

"My prayers have now come true," said Marvie Gbarbea, who has been on the road for the past two years.

Peacekeepers landed in Monrovia last month to a heroes' welcome, ending street battles that left 2000 dead and paving the way for pariah leader Charles Taylor to fly into exile. But fighting has continued in the bush.

The commander of the Guinean peacekeepers said all fighters had been ordered to leave the planned weapons-free zone by 6pm (6am NZT).

"If I see armed elements I will arrest them and take the weapons from them," said Colonel Fode Cassama.

Wandering bands roam the countryside, the offspring of nearly 14 years of non-stop violence that have ruined what used to be one the region's wealthier countries and spilled chaos beyond Liberia's borders.

Worried eyes peered from the bush at the Morris Farm rubber plantation near Kakata as peacekeepers rumbled by. "Thank you, thank you," people said as the Portuguese-speaking troops promised through an interpreter to keep up patrols.

"I hope that now the peacekeepers are here we'll get the people to come back and we will start all over again," said plantation manager Keith Jubah.

"Everybody has left. All the houses and offices have been broken into. They have stolen everything, even the acid we use to coagulate the rubber."

- REUTERS