DATE=7/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE PEACEKEEPERS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264276
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: New problems are facing the more than 200
United Nations peacekeepers who remain surrounded by
rebel forces in Sierra Leone. VOA Correspondent Breck
Ardery reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: U-N officials say the peacekeepers now have just
a 10 day supply of rations and that, so far, it has
been impossible to bring in new supplies. U-N
spokeswoman Marie Okabe told reporters that ground
transportation in the region is extremely difficult.
///Okabe act///
The situation there is that the rains have
flooded the roads in the area that had made
efforts to re-supply this area by road very
difficult. We also had an added complication on
Friday in which a helicopter's re-supply of the
troops was denied. So there has been an
escalation of obstacles in trying to re-supply
them.
///end act///
The 222 Indian peacekeepers and 11 unarmed military
observers have been trapped in the Kailahun region of
Sierra Leone for two months. Although they are not
technically hostages, the peacekeepers have been
denied any freedom of movement by forces of the
Revolutionary United Front which controls Kailahun, an
area about 320 kilometers east of the capital of
Freetown.
Liberia's President Charles Taylor who successfully
negotiated the release of U-N hostages in Sierra Leone
is now attempting to convince the rebels to allow
freedom of movement to the peacekeepers in Kailahun.
(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/AMAHL/KBK
10-Jul-2000 16:43 PM EDT (10-Jul-2000 2043 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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