Following a weekend of intense fighting with government forces, Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) rebels captured Liberia's main timber export port at Harper close to the Ivory Coast's border. Fierce clashes between LURD rebels and Liberian troops in the town of Ganta (265 km northeast of the capital Monrovia) also continued from the 18th. The Liberian government accused Guinean troops of delivering truckloads of ordnance to the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels at Ganta, and even fighting alongside them. In a recent report, U.N. investigators found Guinea has provided LURD fighters with logistical support, including ammunition and weapons, trucked across the border to LURD bases. Guinea has repeatedly denied backing Liberia's rebels. 

About 1,200 Ivorian refugees in Harper and some 800 people from other West African countries who had been awaiting evacuation by ship, were forced to flee by the fighting. An estimated 10,000 refugees had crossed into the Ivory Coast in the last 48 hours. Many of those fleeing Liberia were using canoes to cross the Cavally River, which forms the border between the two countries.

Most of those displaced from Harper had sought refuge there just a few weeks ago to escape fighting around Zwedru further inland. They originally entered Liberia seeking refuge from the Ivory Coast's civil war, but had become subsequently become victims of Liberia's own conflict. - Adam Geibel