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U.S. Marines, helicopters and jets backed West African peacekeepers as they pushed into rebel-held areas of Liberia's battle-worn capital Monrovia Thursday to a riotous welcome.

Thousands of Liberians wait at New Bridge to cross to look for food in the rebel-controlled port area in Monrovia, August 14, 2003. U.S. Marines, helicopters and jets backed West African peacekeepers as they pushed into rebel-held areas of Liberia's battle-worn capital Monrovia to a riotous welcome Thursday. Tens of thousands of people surged out, cheering and punching the air, as Nigerian troops took positions from ragtag fighters pulling out after pariah leader Charles Taylor's flight into exile. [Reuters]

Tens of thousands of people surged out, cheering and punching the air, as Nigerian troops of the Ecomil force crossed bridges to take up positions vacated by ragtag fighters pulling out after pariah leader Charles Taylor flew into exile.

Ghana's foreign minister said Liberia's new president, Moses Blah, met rebel leaders in Accra to try to bring an end to nearly 14 years of strife that has spread turmoil through West Africa and cost at least a quarter of a million lives.

Joyful bursts of gunfire from the rebels rang out when the peacekeepers moved into the port, vital for getting aid to hundreds of thousands of refugees from recent fighting that left at least 2,000 dead.

"I never had the slightest idea I would see this day because what we went through was utter hell," said seamstress Jackie Johnson, whose brother was killed by a mortar blast.

Rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) pulled out in battered pickup trucks as the West Africans moved in. They officially handed over the port at a brief ceremony on a bridge marking the front.

RAZOR WIRE

Helicopters brought more than 100 U.S. Marines into Monrovia's airport, where they will be based, ready to back up the Nigerian peacekeepers in case of trouble.

"We have no reason to doubt the credibility of the Americans, and we have no reason to doubt the credibility of the peacekeepers, so we will leave as we have said," rebel official Sekou Fofana said. "I'm leaving right now."

A few dozen Marines, from a 2,300-strong force waiting aboard warships offshore, waded through swamps to stake razor wire around the port. Relief aid should start flowing to replace looted stocks of rice, beans and cornmeal.

Desperation is greatest on the government side and thousands of people charged toward the front line bridges after rebels left. Finding themselves blocked by barricades, a few leaped into the muddy current to swim. Aid workers said up to seven drowned.

"I am hungry, I am hungry," said Abraham Davis, 24, exhausted and propped up by a friend, his clothes drenched after the swim. "I couldn't stand it no longer that side."

"U.S., America," chanted joyous crowds. They went wild with delight when a fighter jet screeched overhead.

The Pentagon has said about 200 Marines will be deployed over the next few days. Some dashed to airport buildings, others took up positions in the grass after leaping from helicopters with rotor-blades spinning.

As local people cheered, one Marine said simply, "I'm hot."

REBELS MOVE BACK

The country founded by freed American slaves more than 150 years ago would love to have a big U.S. force, but Washington is wary of new foreign military commitments and mindful of a bloody debacle its forces suffered in Somalia a decade ago.

Fighting south of Monrovia this week has already shown that getting rid of Taylor, indicted by a U.N.-backed court for his role in a savage conflict in Sierra Leone, would not be a guarantee of peace. Taylor is in exile in Nigeria.

But both rebel factions have now agreed to pull back their forces to rivers well outside Monrovia, while West African officials in Ghana's capital Accra said they hoped a peace deal would be signed during the weekend.

Ghanaian Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo told Reuters that Blah was meeting at an undisclosed location with LURD leader Sekou Conneh and Thomas Nimley, who heads the faction known as Model. Blah was expected to stay in Accra overnight.

The rebels are wary of Blah, an old Taylor ally. They have said that up to October is too long for him to remain in power.

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