DATE=7/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE / CLASH (L)
NUMBER=2-264700
BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: United Nations peacekeepers in Sierra Leone
have attacked positions held by a dissident militia
group that had been part of a government coalition
against rebels in the country. V-O-A correspondent
Purnell Murdock reports from our West Africa Bureau.
TEXT: U-N officials say the early morning attack
targeted the militia's base in Okra Hills, around 80
kilometers outside the capital, Freetown.
U-N peacekeeping mission spokeswoman Hirut Befecadu
says the operation was launched after the militia
group, known as the West-Side Boys, began harassing
army and other traffic on the road between Freetown
and the international airport.
/// Befecadu Act ///
As part of the operation, all unofficial
checkpoints on the road not put there by UNAMSIL
(the U-N peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone)
were cleared. Any resistance will be met by
force, in accordance with the mission's mandate.
In addition, all key locations in Freetown are
secured to insure that the peaceful situation
that now prevails in Freetown is not threatened.
/// End Act ///
The West-Side Boys militia is composed of forces loyal
to the junta that ousted civilian president Ahmed
Tejan Kabbah in May 1997.
The group has been involved in recent clashes with
members of Sierra Leone's pro-government alliance,
despite having declared its allegiance to the
government.
The United Nations has called on the faction to
disarm, but they have, so far, refused to do so.
This is the latest major offensive carried out by the
U-N peacekeeping force. Last week, U-N troops
destroyed a major rebel camp in the east of the
country after freeing more than 200 peacekeepers
surrounded by the rebels.
U-N peacekeeping officials say they are taking a more
aggressive approach to their mission in Sierra Leone.
But U-N spokeswoman Hirut Befecadu insists the U-N
mandate is unchanged.
/// Befecadu Act ///
We are not taking sides. What we are saying is,
where we are deployed and where we are trying to
maintain peace for all citizens, we would
appreciate any group stays away from that.
Therefore, what we are trying to do now is after
having told them that they should not in any way
obstruct the route from Lungi (international
airport) to Freetown, we have been forced to use
force to clear that.
/// End Act ///
The U-N group's new aggressiveness follows criticism
that the force was not prepared for its mission in
Sierra Leone. Last May, more than 500 U-N soldiers
were held captive for several weeks by Revolutionary
United Front rebels. They were released with the help
of neighboring Liberian president Charles Taylor.
(signed)
NEB/WPM/JP
22-Jul-2000 14:02 PM LOC (22-Jul-2000 1802 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
