DATE=9/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / SIERRA LEONE-UPDATE (L)
NUMBER=2-266320
BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: British troops have raided a Sierra Leonean
militia base and freed six British soldiers held
captive since last month. West Africa Correspondent
Luis Ramirez reports the British assault was carried
out early Sunday.
TEXT: British soldiers stormed the camp in the Occra
Hills east of Freetown, where members of the renegade
militia group known as the West Side Boys had been
holding the six-soldiers.
Sierra Leone's information minister says 17-militia
members were killed and 11 were captured, including a
militia commander. British military officials did not
give specific numbers, but say the losses may have
been heavy on the militia side.
The chief of Britain's Defense Staff, General Charles
Guthrie, says British forces decided to launch the
assault on the camp (Sunday) after it became clear
that no progress was being made in the negotiations to
release the soldiers. The militiamen's demands had
included security guarantees from the British
government.
The six released (Sunday) were among a group of 11-
soldiers who were captured on August 25th. Five others
were released on August 30th.
The soldiers were part of a contingent of more than
200 British troops who are in Sierra Leone to help re-
train the Sierra Leonean army as it tries to win back
control of the country from rebels.
The rescued soldiers have been taken aboard a British
naval vessel off Freetown. (SIGNED)
NEB/LR/ALW/RAE
10-Sep-2000 10:52 AM EDT (10-Sep-2000 1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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