By Glenn McKenzie, Associated Press, 8/13/2003

MONROVIA, Liberia -- The nation's leading rebel movement agreed yesterday to lift its siege of the capital and vital port within two days, allowing food to flow to hundreds of thousands of hungry people. The accord came as a second rebel group launched a push on Monrovia, sending refugees fleeing vicious new assaults a day after warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor resigned and went into exile. Witnesses reported machete-wielding fighters were attacking indiscriminately near the airport.

Rebels from Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, the main insurgent group, agreed to pull back from Monrovia by noon tomorrow and surrender control to peacekeepers.

The pledge was secured by US Ambassador John Blaney and military commanders of a West African peacekeeping force and a 2,300-member US Marine expeditionary force in a meeting with rebel leaders in the looted, rubble-strewn, and heavily shelled rebel-held side of Monrovia.

Blaney called the accord "extremely important for the delivery of humanitarian relief."

The deal obliges the multinational peacekeeping force to speed its deployment throughout the city.