BRITAIN / SIERRA LEONE


DATE=9/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / SIERRA LEONE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266344
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Britain's government has hailed the rescue 
mission that won freedom for six British soldiers and 
a Sierra Leone national being held hostage in Sierra 
Leone by the renegade group known as the West Side 
Boys. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from London 
the government says it remains committed to its 
military mission in the West African nation to train 
Sierra Leone's army.
TEXT:  Foreign Minister Robin Cook says there is no 
question of British troops pulling out of Sierra Leone 
despite the dangers there. 
            ///COOK ACT///
      We are there because the government of Sierra 
      Leone is a democratically-elected government. It 
      is in Britain's interest that we should defend 
      democracy where it is threatened by overthrow by 
      terrorists.
            ///END ACT///
Mr. Cook says Britain is committed to United Nations 
peacekeeping operations.  The mission in Sierra Leone 
is the largest.  British troops were dispatched to the 
West African country several months ago to help train 
and equip the national army.
Last month, 11 British troops and a Sierra Leone 
national were seized by a renegade group of soldiers, 
called the West Side Boys.  Intense negotiations led 
to the release of five but it took a daring rescue 
mission by British paratroopers to finally end the 
hostage crisis.   One British solider and 25 rebels 
were killed in the operation. 
Still, Mr. Cook says the rescue operation has dealt a 
severe blow to the rebels.
            ///COOK ACT TWO///
      The leadership is now behind bars.  Their 
      headquarters has been destroyed.  Half of the 
      West Side Boys had already surrendered into the 
      disarmament process.  In Sierra Leone, we are 
      pressing today for a follow up to encourage the 
      remnants now to do the same.
            ///END ACT///
Britain's foreign minister will also be in New York 
this week for the United Nations General Assembly and 
for talks with U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan about 
plans to expand the U-N peacekeeping force in Sierra 
Leone. Mr. Cook will also discuss international 
efforts to choke off the illegal diamond trade that 
helps finance rebels there.
NEB/LMK/GE/KBK
11-Sep-2000 10:32 AM EDT (11-Sep-2000 1432 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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