World in brief

Liberians swarm the U.S. Embassy

MONROVIA, Liberia - Explosions and machine-gun fire echoed in Liberia's besieged capital Saturday as President Charles Taylor's forces fought rebels pressing on the outskirts, sending tens of thousands of desperate residents to the U.S. Embassy seeking sanctuary.

"This city is not for the taking," a defiant Taylor said.

Early morning artillery and machine-gun fire in western suburbs drove residents from their homes, raised the specter of street fighting in the capital's crowded center and prompted Liberian civilians to throng to the gates of the U.S. Embassy.

Bearing foam mattresses and other hastily gathered belongings, the masses huddled shoulder-to-shoulder in the rain on a muddy, rocky hill outside the embassy compound, asking for help from America - from where freed slaves sailed in the 19th century to found their war-ruined country.

"Send the Marines to guard us," cried Spencer Suku, a student. "The place we are in now, only God can save us."

Fighting eased markedly by afternoon, as rebels announced a cease-fire concerning humanitarian groups.

The rebels, urged on by U.S. authorities, pledged to stop their push on Monrovia for the time being. Many displaced residents trickled slowly back home from the U.S. Embassy, bundled belongings on heads.

Liberia's main northern-based rebel movement has rolled south to set siege to the capital this week, their strongest move yet to depose Taylor,a former warlord indicted Wednesday on war crimes by an international tribunal in Sierra Leone for his involvement in a 10-year war.

"We think that we're going to have it very difficult," Taylor said. But "I think they will be beaten back," he added, seemingly unruffled by his dwindling territory. "This force that came to Monrovia is not greater than God."

Late Friday, the State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from its Monrovia embassy - where security was tight Saturday.

Insurgents have in recent days taken control of Monrovia's seven refugee camps, which housed about 115,000 people displaced from their homes by fighting. Nearly the entire west African country, with an estimated one-third of its 3-million citizens homeless from years of fighting, is cut off from international aid.

OSIJEK, Croatia - Pope John Paul II sought to heal the wounds of recent war and overcome ancient religious divisions Saturday in a Mass for 200,000 people who packed an airfield under a punishing sun.

Two people died of heat-related heart attacks during the ceremony in the eastern city of Osijek. At least 500 others sought medical treatment, including 150 who were hospitalized because of the 100-degree temperatures.

The 83-year-old pope, swathed in heavy robes but protected from the sun by a white canopy, slumped in his chair at times but got through the ceremony.

Later, John Paul was wheeled over a red carpet into the cathedral in nearby Djakovo, where he sprayed incense and said prayers.

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