MONROVIA, July 21: Brutal fighting and heavy shelling rocked the Liberian capital Monrovia on Monday killing dozens of people, possibly as many as 100, as the diplomatic quarter came under sustained mortar fire.

The savage fighting between rebels and forces loyal to embattled President Charles Taylor, who now controls only a fifth of his country, came as special US troops arrived in Monrovia to protect the US mission in Liberia.

Savage battles in central Monrovia saw government forces parading the severed heads of alleged rebels, who were now fighting with loyalist troops near the strategic port area.

Enraged Liberians angry at US President George W. Bush’s failure to respond to international pressure to lead a peacekeeping force into Liberia piled up dead bodies outside the complex.

“Shame on you,” they screamed.

One mortar slammed into the US embassy and several others pounded nearby areas.

Pierre Mendi, the head of MSF-France (Medecins sans Frontieres) in Liberia, told AFP: “There is no clear picture about the toll but it would be safe to say that dozens have died in the fighting today.—AFP