In Liberia, President Charles Taylor has offered to leave the country within 10 days as fighting eased in the capital city of Monrovia.

There were also reports that opposition groups had ordered a ceasefire following some of the country’s most intense fighting.

More than 600 Liberians have died there in recent days.

The New York Times reports that Taylor announced he would leave during a phone call arranged by an American evangelist, the Rev. K. A. Paul, whom Taylor described as “my religious leader”