Marines arrived in Monrovia today to take over security at the American Embassy and dozens more foreigners trapped in factional fighting were flown to safety.

But more than a dozen missions have remained open to show that their governments still recognize Kuwait as a sovereign nation and to keep in touch with the foreigners trapped in the country.

He is threatening the welfare of the thousands of foreigners trapped inside Iraq and Kuwait if the United States and its allies do not back off.

LEAD: Concerted international action: It is essential to secure the safety of the thousands of foreigners trapped in Kuwait and Iraq.

The cease-fire discussions apparently had the sole aim of extracting the foreigners trapped in four hotels occupied by the rebels.

The announcement suggested that more than one million foreigners trapped in Kuwait and Iraq, including about 3,500 Americans, might be allowed to leave.

There are two million foreigners trapped in occupied Kuwait.

A rebel faction whose showdown with rival groups plunged the capital into chaos agreed today to a cease-fire and freed 78 foreigners trapped by the fighting.

An overhaul of the immigration law last year established a process to protect foreigners trapped here because of civil strife or natural disaster at home.

Relief officials said the Americans and other foreigners trapped in Kigali by the fighting were lying low, waiting for the strife to ease or for a convoy or a flight out.