Talks continue on release of UK soldiers in Sierra Leone: UN mission
29 August -- The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reported today that talks were continuing towards the release of 11 British soldiers and one Sierra Leone Army soldier who were seized last week by a band of rebels known as the West Side Boys.
The ongoing talks with representatives of the West Side Boys have not yet led to a release of the detainees, who remain in the Benguema Training Centre since their capture on 25 August in the Okra Hills area.
According to UNAMSIL, the 11 British soldiers were able to communicate briefly with their Government and are all reported to be in good health. The UN Mission remains ready to provide any assistance to help secure their release or to ensure that they have sufficient food and medicine.
Over the weekend, UNAMSIL was also able to establish contact with the newly named leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Issa Sesay. The Mission intends to press the case to retrieve seven of its armoured personnel carriers that were seized months ago by the RUF, and which Sesay claimed might be returned tomorrow.
That promise came after the release last Friday of 171 former RUF combatants who had been held by the Government of Sierra Leone. President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah had announced the release of the RUF prisoners last week as a peace gesture.
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