MONROVIA: Liberia's defence minister welcomed Friday's unilateral ceasefire by rebels surrounding the capital Monrovia, saying government forces would also hold their fire.

Defence Minister Daniel Chea said positions held by the rebels did not matter - the main thing was to restore peace to the besieged coastal city. Hundreds have died in the fighting after rebels attacked the city this week.

"It is welcome news. That has been our desire," said Chea.

"We will go by the ceasefire," he added.

Rebels fighting to oust President Charles Taylor earlier declared a ceasefire with effect from 10 am (1000 GMT) on Friday, saying they wanted to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

This week's fighting sent thousands fleeing in terror and turned up the heat on President Charles Taylor, who was told by US President George W. Bush on Thursday to step down and end a war that has spread turmoil through West Africa.

Rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) said in a statement their ceasefire would let through aid to civilians " to avert a grotesque humanitarian catastrophe in Monrovia and its adjacent parts."

Both sides agreed a truce last week to allow negotiations in Ghana, but it crumbled as the rebels launched their attack.

The rebels have come under enormous foreign pressure to stop fighting or risk losing all credibility in their war against Taylor, who is under UN sanctions and wanted by an international court for war crimes in Sierra Leone.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 06/28/2003 page8)