DATE=6/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE / BRITAIN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263302
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
CONTENT:
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The British army will begin withdrawing the bulk
of its soldiers from Sierra Leone next week. But on a
visit to Freetown on Thursday, British foreign secretary
Robin Cook said that doesn't mean London is abandoning
its former West African colony. VOA's John Pitman has
more from our West Africa bureau.
TEXT: The British Foreign Secretary spent Thursday
meeting Sierra Leone's president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, as
well as United Nations officials and the residents of a
camp for amputees in the capital, Freetown.
Following his visit with President Kabbah, Robin Cook
said London would continue supporting Sierra Leone until
it was, in his words, "stable, successful and
enterprising."
Mr. Cook said despite next week's departure of the bulk
of the British troops currently stationed in Sierra
Leone, the British government would, again in his words,
"go the distance" until "lasting security" is achieved.
Nearly 1000 British paratroopers and marines were
deployed to Sierra Leone over the last month. The first
troops arrived in early May, when it seemed the United
Nations peacekeeping mission could be overwhelmed by a
rebel offensive.
London maintains the force - which was backed by a small
armada of warships and helicopters - was sent to ensure
the safe evacuation of British citizens, and to help
speed the arrival of United Nations reinforcements.
On Thursday, Mr. Cook said both of those objectives had
been achieved, but he stressed there would still be a
British military presence in Sierra Leone after next
week.
The foreign secretary said two warships would remain off
shore as a visible show of force. And about 180 British
soldiers will stay behind on the ground to conduct a six-
week training course for new Sierra Leone Army recruits.
London has also supplied the Freetown government with
thousands of rifles to use in its military campaign
against the rebel Revolutionary United Front, the R-U-F.
Mr. Cook said the British government would also step up
its diplomatic efforts to end the war and restart the
faltering Lome peace process.
The steps he vowed to take included putting more pressure
on Liberia to cut its traditional ties with the R-U-F,
and working to impose an international embargo on
diamonds mined by the rebels. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/KL
08-Jun-2000 14:39 PM EDT (08-Jun-2000 1839 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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