More than 300 surrender arms in Sierra Leone

The Times of India (www.timesofindia.com/090800/09afrc2.htm)
9 August 2000

UNITED NATIONS: In a development welcomed by UN officials, more than
300 people were reported to have surrendered over the past 10 days before
a disarmament centre in Lungi, Sierra Leone.

A spokesperson for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reported
that among the ex-combatants and their dependents reporting to the
centre were two child soldiers. Besides, there were 260 former
combatants, including 53 former members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA)
and 82 members of the so called "West Side Boys" -- a group formed by
elements of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and former SLA.

"We are very happy with the fact that more of the West Side Boys and the
RUF (Revolutionary United Front) are coming in to the disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration process," a UN news service press
release said quoting UNAMSIL spokesperson Hirut Befecadu from capital
Freetown.  Befacadu said the head of disarmament, demobilisation and the
reintegration process, Francis Kaikai, was on hand in Lungi to welcome
those who had come forward and urge others to do the same.

Meanwhile, Manoel de Almeida de Silva, deputy spokesman for Secretary
General Kofi Annan, told reporters here that although most of Sierra
Leone was reported to be calm on Monday, there was tension overnight in
Freetown where one Sierra Leone army soldier was shot dead on Sunday
night while he was investigating a shooting incident.

He said UN peacekeepers rushed to the area of the killing and brought
the situation under control. Two Sierra Leone army recruits and a
civilian technician were arrested following the incident and an
investigation was under way, he said. (India Abroad News Service)