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DATE=7/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L-O)
TITLE=INDIA/SIERRA LEONE
NUMBER=2-264462
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
INTRO:  India's Foreign Minister says the military 
rescue of trapped U-N peacekeepers in Sierra Leone 
became necessary Saturday after diplomatic efforts to 
secure their release failed.  Anjana Pasricha reports 
from New Delhi.
TEXT:  Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said Sunday the 
military operation was mounted to rescue 221-Indian 
peacekeepers and 11-military observers after all 
attempts to secure their return had failed.  The 
peacekeepers had been surrounded by Revolutionary 
United Front rebels in the town of Kailahun since May.
            /// INSERT SINGH ACT ///
      Since the diplomatic efforts by the United 
      Nations and India, and political initiatives at 
      the highest level to persuade the RUF 
      (Revolutionary United Front) to not persist with 
      the encirclement having been unsuccessful, and 
      all peaceful means having been exhausted, the 
      use of force to secure the freedom of movement 
      of peacekeepers and observers had become 
      unavoidable.
            /// END ACT ///
Indian military officials are describing the operation 
to free the peacekeepers and military observers from 
the rebel-held town of Kailahun as a brilliantly-
planned and complex operation.  They said the 10-hour 
mission Saturday was a complete success. 
The rescue operation was undertaken by a contingent of 
300 mostly Indian troops, along with soldiers from 
Ghana and Nigeria, that was dropped Saturday from 
helicopter gunships in rebel-controlled areas.  
India's Director General of Military Operations N-C 
Vij says the troops took control of strategic places 
along the road to Kailahun before launching an attack 
on the rebels.
            /// INSERT VIJ ACT ///
      The RUF put up a stiff resistance, but despite 
      that the operation progressed speedily and 
      smoothly, mainly because of three factors - 
      because of the surprise and speed of operation,
      two because of very good orchestration of 
      operations and coordination of operations ... 
      The third factor extensive use of helicopters.
            /// END VIJ ACT ///
Foreign Minister Singh said the RUF rebels suffered a 
large number of casualties and the U-N troops captured 
an arsenal of weapons from the retreating rebels.  He 
said U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan authorized the 
strike 300-kilometers east of the capital, Freetown. 
Mr. Singh says India remains committed to U-N 
peacekeeping missions, although he said such 
operations are becoming extremely complex and 
difficult.  He says the involvement of Indian troops 
in the U-N peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone is 
an expression of India's close ties with Africa.
Rebels in Sierra Leone reignited the country's civil 
war in May by launching attacks on towns and capturing 
U-N hostages.   (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/RAE
16-Jul-2000 09:45 AM EDT (16-Jul-2000 1345 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.