Rebels battled forces loyal to President Charles Taylor on three fronts yesterday, in the most sustained effort to oust him this year. Defense and humanitarian sources said there was fighting close to Monrovia, the capital; in the strategic central city of Gbarnga; and also in towns near the eastern border with Ivory Coast, which is also in the throes of civil war. “There was an attack late last night in two towns in the southeast,” said a defense ministry source. “Toe town and Zle town were attacked by LURD forces. At present, there is fighting going on.” This year’s dry season offensive has been the fiercest since the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, or LURD, began its war in 2000 against Taylor, who is under United Nations sanctions for stoking instability in West Africa. Taylor blamed Liberia’s troubles on forces from neighboring Guinea and said the United States was aiding the rebellion by giving military aid to Guinea’s army. Full Story