"We are fighting a war of survival," General Benjamin Yeaten told journalists, and then alluding to his forces, added: "Let no man give up. I want every man to get up and give his strength."

Yeaten said the rebel Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) group attacked government forces Friday in Nimba county "where the hometown of Vice President Moses Blah is located."

He said embattled President Charles Taylor, a former warlord, was in the second port city of Buchanan, staving off another rebel attack.

"He (Taylor) deemed it necessary to visit some of the battle fronts more especially in Buchanan. It is a deep threat to the nation. When the president goes to the front, it's not a time to joke."

Taylor failed to meet two top west African officials who arrived here Friday to discuss a west African ultimatum to quit the country, just ahead of the arrival of a regional vanguard peacekeeping force on Monday.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Addo Akufo Addo, the foreign minister of Ghana -- which holds the rotating presidency of the grouping -- are now due to meet Taylor on Saturday at 11:00 am (1100 GMT).

Yeaten asked his troops "to maintain your positions and assure security to civilians till the peacekeepers arrive."

He warned that looting or harassment of civilians by government troops would be severely punished.

WAR.WIRE