Guerrillas Gain a Foothold in Center of Liberia’s Capital

More than 300 Liberian rebels stormed into central Monrovia on Friday and were locked in bitter street fighting to wrest control of the inner city from remaining troops loyal to President Samuel K. Doe.

Guerrillas from the National Patriotic Front crossed two bridges from Bushrod Island in the early morning and gained a foothold on the central district, which sits on a peninsula, a goal that had eluded them during their two-week-long advance into the capital.

The combat took them to about one mile from the executive mansion, where Doe--who seized power in a bloody 1980 coup--was holed up with members of his crack Israeli-trained guard, vowing never to give up.

Doe, through a spokesman, expressed defiance, saying he would never resign. The spokesman, who was not identified, made the comments in a telephone call Friday to the British Broadcasting Corp. in London.

Later Friday, Radio ELWA outside Monrovia broadcast a speech by rebel leader Charles Taylor in which he claimed to have set up his own government. No details were given in the speech.

The attacking force of about 300 fighters seized control of two streets on the banks of the Mesurado River.