DATE=7/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE AMBUSH (L)
NUMBER=2-263970
BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Gunmen in Sierra Leone have attacked a convoy
of United Nations peacekeepers, killing at least one
soldier and wounding four others. From our West
Africa Bureau, V-O-A correspondent Purnell Murdock
reports U-N officials are uncertain who launched the
attack.
TEXT: Few details have emerged since gunmen launched
the attack early Friday. United Nations officials in
the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, say the
attackers were heavily armed with assault rifles and
rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
They say the Jordanian peacekeepers returned fire on
the roadside near an area known as Mile 91, some 110
kilometers outside the capital. But it was not clear
if there were any casualties among the attackers.
U-N officials in New York at first blamed
Revolutionary United Front rebels for the attack. But
officials in Freetown say that has yet to be
confirmed. U-N peacekeeping force spokeswoman Hirut
Befacadu says factions supporting the civilian
government are also known to be in the area.
/// Befacadu Act ///
Along this route from Mile 91 to (the nearby
town of) Masiaka there has been fighting between
the "West Side Boys" (faction) and the
government troops. This had happened before.
Along that route shooting had been heard before.
Whether it was intentional that this be against
our cars or not, I have no idea.
/// End Act ///
Sierra Leone's pro-government force is a shaky
alliance among fighters who were former enemies during
the country's long civil war. Their close proximity
has resulted in several clashes in recent weeks,
including skirmishes at Masiaka, some 50 kilometers
from the capital.
This latest incident follows the return Friday of 21
Indian peacekeepers who were held captive by Sierra
Leone rebels since early June. (signed)
NEB/WPM/DW/JP
01-Jul-2000 09:43 AM EDT (01-Jul-2000 1343 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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