DATE=7/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N PEACEKEEPERS-SIERRA LEONE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264754
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan says (Monday)
the weekend attack by United Nations peacekeepers on a
rebel faction in Sierra Leone should serve as a
warning that U-N troops will defend themselves. VOA
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: Mr. Annan was asked about a weekend incident in
which the peacekeepers drove out a rebel group that
had been interfering with traffic on a main highway
near the capital of Freetown. The Secretary General
says U-N commanders had reason to believe the rebels
were planning an attack on the peacekeepers and that
U-N forces carried out what he calls a "pre-emptive"
strike.
Mr. Annan told reporters the incident should serve as
a warning to others in Sierra Leone who may be
considering interfering with U-N troops.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
We are going to remain vigilant. We are going to
remain firm. Anyone who attempts to attack the
peacekeepers should know that they (the
peacekeepers) will defend themselves and there
will be a price to pay.
/// END ACT ///
The latest incident came one week after U-N
peacekeepers engineered a successful rescue mission of
more than 200 U-N troops who had been surrounded by
rebels in eastern Sierra Leone.
U-N officials say that, taken together, the latest
developments seem to indicate a new "get tough"
attitude by General Vijay Jetley of India, the U-N
Force Commander in Sierra Leone.
The U-N mission in Sierra Leone had earlier suffered a
series of humiliating setbacks including incidents in
which rebels took of hundreds of peacekeepers hostage
and stole some of their weapons.
/// REST OPT ///
The new U-N commander, General Jetley, is expected to
come to U-N headquarters in New York for consultations
later this week. (SIGNED)
NEB/BA/LSF/TVM/KBK
24-Jul-2000 16:59 PM EDT (24-Jul-2000 2059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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