UN peacekeepers attacked by rebels in Sierra Leone
24 August -- United Nations peacekeepers in Sierra Leone have come under attack by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels near Port Loko in the western part of the country, a UN spokesman said today in New York.
Early Wednesday morning, Nigerian soldiers of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) were attacked along the road between Port Loko and Lungi, spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters at UN Headquarters. Two of the UN soldiers were wounded during the incident, which lasted for about four hours.
Sierra Leonean government forces in the Port Loko area were also attacked that day by the RUF, Mr. Eckhard said, adding that the situation was now reported to be quiet, but that units there had been placed on maximum alert.
Also on Wednesday, Salim A. Salim, the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), wrapped up a two-day visit to Sierra Leone during which he expressed the region's strong support for UNAMSIL. During his stay, Mr. Salim was briefed on recent developments in the country by Behrooz Sadry, the UN Deputy Special Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
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