Fresh fighting has reportedly broken out in the west of the Ivory Coast despite continuing discussions on a new power-sharing government for the country. The claims, from rebel and government officials, come shortly after neighbouring Liberia accused the Ivory Coast of employing Liberian mercenaries to carry out cross-border attacks.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has urged the Liberian government to stop “the unending spate of physical assault, cruel torture and sheer impunity being perpetrated” against journalists and human rights activists.

As they have for nearly two weeks now, desperate Liberian refugees continued to demonstrate in front of the offices of the United Nations refugee agency in Abidjan demanding to be evacuated out of Côte d'Ivoire or moved to a safer location.

Following a new front of fighting in Western Cote d'Ivoire in December Oxfam is now looking for urgent additional support to assess and respond to the needs of thousands of refugees and returnees crossing in to Liberia.

Duties include to promote and safeguard MSF's Identity and Principles and to take overall responsibility by co-ordinating the appropriate, effective and efficient management of the MSF operations in-country through the Country Management Team CMT in accordance with the MSF mandate and the MSF-CH Country Policy.

The Civil Society Movement of Liberia has warned that renewed armed hostilities between rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and government troops in the west of the country threatens to mar planned peace talks.

World Vision Liberia has commenced distribution of World Food Program (WFP) food to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in three camps in Montserrado County, World Vision reported last Thursday.

The road to the ballot box in Liberia's political contest seems to be rocky as insecurity, violence and intimidation of political opponents rise in the run up to October's general elections. The race kicked off a few days ago with attacks, arrests and intimidation of political opponents and in one case the shooting of an opposition activist - raising the questions of insecurity, unhindered canvassing and level-playing field in the forthcoming elections.

About 34,000 Liberian returnees and refugees fleeing fighting in neighboring Ivory Coast are said to be facing severe hunger in Maryland County.

Amnesty International (AI) last Friday called on the Liberian government to release Aloysius Toe, a leading human rights activist, saying he was due to be tried on a trumped-up treason charge. "Toe has done nothing but work legitimately for the defense of fundamental human rights in Liberia. He should not be in prison and not on trial," AI said in a press statement.

A journalist has told the BBC his stay in a notorious Liberian prison was like being in a torture camp. Hassan Bility said that during his detention he was electrocuted, his penis was attached to electrodes, he was blindfolded and beaten.

A major human tragedy is in the making in the Liberian capital Monrovia, where thousands are seeking refuge after fleeing the conflict between government and rebel forces.

Hundreds of people have been streaming into camps for previously displaced people in the western suburbs of the capital, Monrovia. Earlier last week, rebels from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) group were reported to be on the outskirts of Monrovia, sparking panic, but this later proved to be a false alarm.

Liberia's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission on Wednesday reported that extensive instances of human rights abuses and violations including arbitrary arrests of civilians by government forces were committed in Liberia in 2002.

The Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Mary Ann Wyrsch concluded on Thursday a two-day assessment visit on the general refugee situation in Liberia and expressed concern over the increasing number of refugees in the country as a result of the conflict in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Liberia, Marc Destanne de Bernis, on Tuesday appealed for additional support to meet the needs of refugees and returnees from Cote d'Ivoire in Liberia, the UN in Liberia reported.

The Norwegian Refugee Council is starting up aid projects for the internally displaced in Liberia. Increased actions of war in Liberia and its neighbouring country the Ivory Coast, has worsened the situation for civilians. There are presently approximately 200 000 internally displaced refugees in Liberia.

Former president pro-tem of the Liberian Senate, Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine returned to his country last week after many years in exile in the United States. He fled Liberia in 1998 after he broke away from the regime of President Charles Taylor. Brumskine is planning to run for president in elections scheduled for October this year but the government of Charles Taylor has been cracking down on dissent and is battling an armed rebellion in the Northern part of Liberia.

Over 26,000 Liberian returnees and refugees from Cote d'Ivoire require urgent assistance after fleeing recent military activities in the rebel-held western Ivorian cities of Danane and Man, UNICEF reported on Monday.

The UN Security Council has urged the government and the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) to ensure free access for humanitarian aid workers to displaced civilians and refugees, saying it was concerned about human rights in Liberia.