27 July -- The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reported today that in the wake of its "Operation Thunderbolt" -- a successful preemptive strike against a rebel group on Monday -- small groups of Sierra Leonean rebels have started to come forward to disarm.
According to UNAMSIL, 17 members of the rebel group known as "West Side Boys" have come forward to disarm, and more are reported on their way. Small groups of Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels have reported to Daru and several other locations for disarmament as well.
In New York, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard welcomed the small-scale disarmament efforts, but said that there was not yet a clear picture of the power arrangements in Sierra Leone following recent events there. He said the apparently spontaneous disarmament efforts were "encouraging."
In another development, UN humanitarian agencies are investigating the alleged abduction of a group of non-governmental organization personnel who have been reported missing for about a week, Mr. Eckhard said.
The Security Council, meanwhile, met today in closed consultations to receive the text of a draft resolution concerning the trial of senior Sierra Leonean nationals responsible for violations of international humanitarian law.
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