Liberian President Charles Taylor yesterday called on the country's main rebel group to submit to democracy to end a nearly five-year-long civil war.

Taylor said the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy "must submit itself to the democratic process," in a farewell speech aired last night on the eve of his planned resignation.

"I urge the US administration and the west African community not to tamper with the consitution of Liberia," Taylor added.

The embattled president also said ongoing peace talks brokered by a regional west African bloc in the Ghanaian capital Accra could now be shifted to Liberia.

Today, the 55-year-old Taylor is to expected to fulfill his promise to leave Liberia after mounting international pressure amid hopes that this would help end a devastating civil war that has ravaged the west African country.

He is supposed to leave for exile in Nigeria after handing over power today to his vice president, Moses Blah.

Meanwhile, Taylor said he was "being forced into exile", according to a radio address aired last night and accused the US of fomenting civil war in his country.

"I am being forced into exile. I am standing down from office from my own volition ... but I am being forced into exile," he said.

According to a recorded version of the speech, Taylor blamed the US for the brutal civil war in Liberia, founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century.

He said Washington was backing the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) main rebel group.

"This is an American war against Liberia. Lurd is a surrogate force ... well they can call off their dogs now," he said.

Taylor accused US President George W Bush of using food "as a weapon of war against the Liberian people," adding that Washington's refusal to intervene in Liberia had put him in an impossible position.

"Charles Taylor, the 21st president, is on his way..." he said, referring to his planned resignation today after which he is due to leave for Nigeria, which has offered the embattled leader exile.

Taylor, who is also indicted for war crimes by a UN-backed court in Sierra Leone court, now controls only a fifth of his war-ravaged country. – Sapa-AFP.