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DATE=6/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE REBELS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263673
BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  Sierra Leonean military officials say pro-
government forces have lost control of the strategic 
town of Lunsar, near the capital, Freetown.  The 
government had captured the town on June 7th.  From our 
West Africa bureau, correspondent Purnell Murdock 
reports this latest development raises questions about 
the readiness of pro-government troops to secure the 
country's interior.
TEXT:  Though it not clear when or under what 
circumstances Sierra Leone's rebels recaptured Lunsar, 
United Nations officials said Thursday the town has 
been taken.  Sierra Leone military spokesman Major 
John Milton describes the situation differently.  He 
says it is not that the rebels now occupy Lunsar, but 
rather that pro-government forces are no longer on the 
ground there. 
                  /// 1st MILTON ACT ///
      I want to believe it's a no-man's land, because 
      we have the helicopter that is patrolling the 
      area, and then because of the fact that we have 
      left the ground, rebels would not then come 
      there easily, because then they would think that 
      it's a kind of trick. 
                      /// END ACT ///
Lunsar, about 80 kilometers north of the capital, is 
on a main road that links Freetown to rebel-held 
diamond-mining areas in eastern Sierra Leone.  The 
town has changed hands several times since fighting 
resumed in May. 
Major Milton says soldiers forming a pro-government 
alliance fled Lunsar last week, after a gunfight 
erupted among them.  The military spokesman says the 
incident does not indicate any weakness in the 
alliance.
                  /// 2ND MILTON ACT ///
      I'd like to believe that since they are military 
      men there would not be a problem.  That is an 
      isolated incident and is being addressed.  And 
      once that has been addressed then I think that 
      everything will be back on course.
                    /// END ACT ///
Despite those assurances, the incident at Lunsar 
raises questions about the stability of the alliance 
of militias and armed fighters who were once enemies 
but now support the government.
Violence erupted Saturday in the capital between two 
of the allied factions, killing at least one civilian.   
(Signed)
NEB/WPM/WTW
22-Jun-2000 18:54 PM EDT (22-Jun-2000 2254 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.