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DATE=1/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244858
TITLE=U-N / SIERRA LEONE APPEAL (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  SIERRA LEONE SAYS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD DO MORE
TO STOP FOREIGN SUPPORT FOR THAT COUNTRY'S REBEL MOVEMENT.  THE 
APPEAL WAS MADE AT THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (FRIDAY) BY A SENIOR 
OFFICIAL FROM SIERRA LEONE, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N 
CORRESPONDENT, MAX RUSTON. 
TEXT:  SIERRA LEONE'S MINISTER OF FINANCE, JAMES JONAH, MADE THE 
APPEAL.  HE SAYS HE DELIVERED TWO DOCUMENTS TO THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL.  ONE OUTLINES HIS GOVERNMENT'S CHARGES THAT LIBERIA IS 
PROVIDING HUMAN AND MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE REBELS IN SIERRA 
LEONE.  THE OTHER SUGGESTS WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.
                        /// JONAH ACT ///
         YOU CANNOT DEAL WITH ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO AND NOT DEAL 
         WITH THEM IN SIERRA LEONE.  WE BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME
         FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE SECURITY COUNCIL
         TO BE MORE EVEN-HANDED IN DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.  
         THAT IS THE REASON WHY YESTERDAY I MET WITH THE 
         PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL SO THEY CAN KNOW THAT 
         MY COUNTRY IS IN ANGUISH AND IS LOOKING TOWARDS THE 
         SECURITY COUNCIL AND MAJOR POWERS TO HELP US DEAL WITH 
         OUR EXTERNAL AGGRESSORS AND TO HELP END THE ATROCITIES 
         IN MY COUNTRY.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. JONAH SAYS HE IS AWARE OF AT LEAST FIVE REBEL TRAINING CAMPS 
IN LIBERIA.  HE ALSO ACCUSES BURKINA FASO OF SUPPORTING THE 
REBELS IN SIERRA LEONE.  HE CALLS FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO 
TAKE A MORE ROBUST STAND BY SAYING IT WILL NOT TOLERATE OUTSIDE 
INTERFERENCE IN SIERRA LEONE.
MR. JONAH SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN 
DIPLOMATIC TALKS WITH LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR ON HOW TO
END THE VIOLENCE.
MR. JONAH'S COMMENTS FOLLOW WEEKS OF HEAVY FIGHTING IN SIERRA 
LEONE'S CAPITAL, FREETOWN, BETWEEN REBELS AND THE WEST AFRICAN 
PEACEKEEPING FORCE, ECOMOG.  SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE REPORTED
TO HAVE DIED IN THE FIGHTING AND HUNDREDS MORE HAVE HAD THEIR 
LIMBS SEVERED BY REBEL FIGHTERS.  U-N OFFICIALS SAY REBEL ATTACKS
ON CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN AMONG THE MOST BRUTAL SEEN ANYWHERE IN 
RECENT YEARS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RRM
29-Jan-99 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.