Military

DATE=01/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-285373

TITLE=SIERRA LEONE / WAR (L 2nd-UPDATE)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=FREETOWN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// UPDATES CR 2-285354 ///

INTRO: In Sierra Leone, United Nations officials, members of the government, and rebel leaders have formally declared an end to the U-N-sponsored disarmament program. They ended a meeting in the capital, Freetown, Thursday calling for international help in re-integrating thousands of former combatants, following the country's 10-year civil war. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez has more from Freetown.

TEXT: The three sides making up Sierra Leone's joint committee on disarmament, demobilization and re-integration came together Thursday for what members said was their last meeting, in which they declared that disarmament is now complete throughout Sierra Leone.

U-N and Sierra Leonean officials say a total of 46-thousand-four-hundred-and-53 rebels with the Revolutionary United Front and pro-government militias handed over their weapons to U-N peacekeepers over a period of eight months, starting last May. U-N peacekeepers officially stopped collecting weapons on January 11th.

U-N officials say some combatants have yet to turn in their guns and ammunition, but peacekeepers say they estimate the number of weapons still outstanding is low.

In a statement issued after the meeting Thursday, U-N representatives, the Sierra Leonean government and R-U-F leaders made a call for the international community to assist in the re-integration of thousands of mostly young, former combatants into the Sierra Leonean society.

Responding to R-U-F complaints, the committee also agreed to consider asking the U-N Security Council to lift the travel ban that R-U-F members are currently under.

The meeting was yet another event this week marking the final chapter of Sierra Leone's brutal civil war. On Friday, the government will carry out a symbolic destruction of weapons outside Freetown. A number of heads of state have been invited to attend the ceremony.

On Saturday, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is scheduled to be at a second weapons-burning ceremony in the city of Makeni, the former rebel stronghold where the R-U-F is headquartered. (Signed)

NEB/LR/TW