Liberia Fighting Escalates; Mortar Bomb Hits U.S. Embassy [View All]

By SOMINI SENGUPTA with KIRK SEMPLE


ONROVIA, Liberia, July 21 — At least one mortar bomb fell on the American embassy here during intense fighting between rebels and government troops today that left bodies piled up on the streets of this war-torn capital.

The escalating conflict came as the first members of a contingent of 41 American Marines arrived to bolster security on embassy property. The mortar round that hit the embassy fell on the commissary as embassy staff and several dozen reporters were huddled inside a building in the complex, but no injuries were reported.

In the area around the embassy, though, scenes of carnage played out in the most intense day of fighting since rebels opposed to President Charles G. Taylor began to push into the city three weeks ago. An unofficial count put the number of people killed at 50 or more, with another 250 people injured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/international/africa/21CND-LIBE.html?hp