Abidjan: Rockets landed on June 26 on a compound housing local security staff of the US Embassy in Monrovia, killing seven people and wounding three, diplomats said, adding that no Americans had been harmed.

An Embassy source, who declined to be named, said seven people had been killed and three injured.

Another diplomat, political adviser Douglas Kent said from Monrovia, "Three rounds landed on the Greystone compound, in which we have local security guards. It is about 100 to 150 metres from the Embassy down a street.

"The compound was overrun by displaced people and we have basically lost control of it," he said.

"There were no rockets landing in the Embassy compound and there have been no casualties in the Embassy. No Americans have been injured."

Kent did not refer to how many other casualties had occurred.

Fighting raged in downtown Monrovia on June 26 between rebels and government forces loyal to President Charles Taylor, who currently controls only one-fifth of the West African country and is facing his worst challenge in a four-year civil war.

Agencies