Thursday, August 31, 2000
Sierra Leonean rebels return seized armoured personnel carriers to UN
31 August -- The rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone has returned six armoured personnel carriers to the United Nations, a spokesman for the world body announced today.
The tanks, seized from Zambian troops serving with the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in May, were among the vehicles and weapons stolen from the Mission by the RUF. They were received yesterday by UNAMSIL Deputy Force Commander Brigadier-General Muhammad Garba at Makut, some 12 kilometres from Makeni, the scene of past RUF sieges.
The new RUF leader, Issa Sesay, last week promised to return seven armoured personnel carriers as a first batch of returns of vehicles and weapons belonging to the Mission. "The seventh vehicle was reported to have broken down on the way to Makut reportedly from lack of fuel, but the Mission has sent more fuel to retrieve it," spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters. "The Mission has transported five of the six vehicles to Port Loko, and plans to transport the remaining two by helicopter shortly."
The Deputy Force Commander is making further contact with the RUF to receive all of the remaining equipment and weapons that had been seized by the rebels.
Meanwhile, Mr. Eckhard confirmed today that with the assistance of UNAMSIL, five of the 11 British soldiers seized last Friday by the "West Side Boys" rebel faction were returned yesterday. He said a dialogue was continuing to secure the release of the remaining six British hostages and a Sierra Leone Army soldier.
"The UN Mission provided security and logistical assistance to help bring about the release of the initial batch of hostages and is continuing to support the efforts of the British Government to resolve the situation as soon as possible," Mr. Eckhard said.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
