Liberia: government launches new offensive to dislodge rebels from northern base

Government forces in Liberia have launched a new offensive against a three-year-old insurgency, attempting to dislodge rebels from their northern stronghold on the border with Guinea, military officials said Wednesday. The troops on Tuesday attacked the town of Voinjama, about 160 miles northeast of the capital, Monrovia, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The government met stiff resistance, and sporadic gunfire continued around the town on Wednesday, they said.