DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / SIERRA LEONE (L)
NUMBER=2-262703
BYLINE=EVANS HAYS
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Britain says it will begin training
Sierra Leone's army as part of an effort to help
the government in Freetown restore stability
after years of civil war. As V-O-A's Evans Hays
reports from London, Britain also will provide
support with arms and ammunition.
TEXT: Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon announced
that Britain will take part in a small
international team to provide long-term training
for Sierra Leone's army.
/// HOON ACT ONE //
The training team is part of the
government's wider program of assistance in
helping the government of Sierra Leone
restore peace and stability after eight
years of brutal civil war.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Hoon told parliament the team will help
Sierra Leone's military reach the standards set
by the Lome peace agreement that was to have
ended the country's civil war.
/// HOON ACT TWO ///
The team will provide advice and training
to help the government of Sierra Leone
rebuild a new, effective and
democratically-accountable armed force and
ministry of defense in line with the Lome
peace agreement.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Hoon said Britain is encouraging other
nations to join the training team for Sierra
Leone.
/// OPT // HOON ACT THREE ///
The United Kingdom will provide the
majority of the personnel, but the team
will be a multinational effort. We are
encouraging other countries with an
interest in peace in Sierra Leone to
contribute as soon as it is safe to do so
to a team about 90 strong.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
To further help Sierra Leone's army, Mr. Hoon
said Britain will provide light weapons and
ammunition as needed.
// HOON ACT FOUR ///
We will also be giving the Sierra Leone
Army access, if needed for operations and
under the supervision of British officers,
to stocks of light weapons and ammunition.
The precise distribution of arms and
ammunition will be carefully considered in
the context of the local political
situation and wider regional issues.
/// END ACT ///
Defense Secretary Hoon said a battalion of
British paratroopers that had been guarding
Freetown's airport will be withdrawn shortly. It
will be replaced by a unit of marines that can be
supplied more easily. This will be followed by
more troop reductions until all British units are
pulled out. (Signed)
NEB/EH/JWH/ENE/gm
23-May-2000 12:30 PM EDT (23-May-2000 1630 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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