West African foreign ministers have been discussing the humanitarian crisis in northwestern Liberia, which was invaded by armed dissidents two weeks ago.

Thousands of people have fled the fighting in Lofa County, and remain in urgent need of food, safe drinking water and medical supplies.

The Liberia government believes the armed men are members of several former factions which fought in the country's seven-year civil war.

Meanwhile, one man who escaped the fighting has told a Liberian newspaper the independent Concord that dissidents had massacred displaced people sheltering in a church.