DATE=7/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE - TOWN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264072
BYLINE=NANCY PALUS
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
INTRO: In Sierra Leone, United Nations Peacekeepers
have taken control of a key town that lies between the
capital, Freetown, and rebel-held areas in the
country's interior. The move comes after the Sierra
Leone Army had lost the town to rebels. Nancy Palus
reports from our West Africa bureau.
TEXT: United Nations peacekeepers moved into the
western town of Masiaka on Tuesday, after rebels of
the Revolutionary United Front, or R-U-F, reportedly
had taken the town from government troops.
/// opt /// Masiaka is about 80 kilometers from the
Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, and is on a road
linking Freetown to rebel strongholds in the north and
east. /// end opt ///
United Nations spokesman Hirut Befecadu says
additional U-N troops joined peacekeepers already
monitoring the areas, after the rebels claimed to have
captured Masiaka on Monday night.
/// Befacadu Act ///
They (rebels) came in and created panic in the
town and said that now R-U-F is in control of
the town. That is why U-N troops that are
actually patrolling the area needed to
strengthen the force and went to Masiaka and
took over the town.
/// End act ///
A Sierra Leone army spokesperson told the Reuters News
Agency that the rebels attacked pro-government troops
in the town on Monday, and eventually drove them out.
Masiaka was the scene last week of clashes between
rival factions supporting the government. A skirmish
between members of the alliance in the strategic town
of Lunsar in late June led to a rebel take-over of the
town.
The incidents have raised concern about the stability
of the pro-government alliance. (Signed)
NEB/NEP/WPM/PT
04-Jul-2000 20:39 PM EDT (05-Jul-2000 0039 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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