ACCRA, June 17: Liberian rebels on Tuesday signed a long-awaited truce with President Charles Taylor’s government to end a festering four-year civil war which has fuelled chaos and a humanitarian crisis across west Africa.

The ceasefire was signed by leaders from two rebel groups, who are said to control 12 of Liberia’s 15 counties, and Defence Minister Daniel Chea.

The deal provides for “comprehensive peace talks” within 30 days on the establishment of a transition government from which Taylor will be excluded.

Former Nigerian president Abdulsalamai Abubakar, who mediated the Ghana talks mandated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), broke into a broad smile at the signing, heralding it as “the moment we have all been waiting for.

At the ceremony a Liberian priest read a prayer and congratulated the rival sides, saying: “All of you have made the impossible possible.”

Kabineh Ja’neh from the main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, signed the truce on behalf of his organization.—AFP