Lurd are bent on creating more suffering for the Liberian people

Daniel Chea, Defence Minister

The fighting follows a raid on the town of Kakata - 50km north-east of the capital, Monrovia - which the rebels briefly held on Wednesday.

Lurd rebels based in northern Liberia have waged a sporadic campaign against the government of President Charles Taylor since mid-2000, but have pushed south towards Monrovia in recent months.

Refugees

In the attack on Tubmanburg, the rebels appeared to have come from the direction of Bopolu, their main stronghold.

There are no details on casualties.

Thousands have been displaced by the fighting

At least three civilians died in Wednesday's fighting in Kakata, where many residents fled to neighbouring rubber plantations.

Liberia's Defence Minister, Daniel Chea, visited the town after it was regained by government troops.

"Those that support Lurd are nothing but a bunch of misguided individuals who are bent on creating more harshness and suffering for the Liberian people," Mr Chea told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

Arms embargo

On Tuesday, rebels attacked an army base at Todee, 35km from Monrovia.

Taylor wants UN sanctions lifted

The highway through Todee and Kakata is the main link between Monrovia and Ivory Coast and one of the major routes north to Guinea.

The fighting comes as a United Nations team is in Liberia to review an arms embargo and sanctions imposed on the Liberian Government.

The UN has accused Liberia of trading arms and diamonds with rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

President Charles Taylor strongly opposes the embargo, saying it helps Lurd rebels.