The Liberian Government says it has secured the release of 180 UN peacekeepers being held by rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Published:
27 May 2000 y., Saturday
Forty-six of the former hostages have been flown to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where a number were transferred to hospital. The remainder are in the border town of Foya waiting to be airlifted out.
About 70 UN peacekeepers are still being held hostage in Sierra Leone by the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) but a Liberian Government minister said mediators were continuing talks with individual rebel commanders and he hoped all UN personnel would soon be freed.
The RUF seized 500 UN hostages more than three weeks ago.
News of the mass release came shortly after Sierra Leonean President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah announced that it was to put the RUF leader, Foday Sankoh, on trial.
He told the BBC in an interview that the evidence against him was being put together now and, if found to have violated the law, Mr Sankoh would no longer be considered part of the peace deal he signed last year.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The Prime Ministers have discussed the latest developments in Georgia as well as the September European Council dedicated for the matter.
more »
On 19 August, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas attended an extraordinary North Atlantic Council meeting, where he and other NATO Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Georgia.
more »
Today, August 20, Wednesday, President Valdas Adamkus and President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia observe the Balts Will international coastal exercises of special operations forces.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus says that in the face of aggression against Georgia hasty calls are being made to change Lithuania’s defense strategy and return to its earlier conscription system.
more »
Aircraft of Lithuanian Air Force (LAF) C–27J Spartan took off from Tbilisi Airfield to evacuate 39 citizens of Lithuania from Georgia crisis region
more »
Today President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus participated in the meeting of presidents of the Lithuanian World Community and the World Lithuanian Youth Union.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus has condemned the acts of vandalism committed against Lithuania‘s and Vilnius‘s Jewish community headquarters, and calls on law-and-order and special services of the country to identify the organisers and the perpetrators of these acts immediately.
more »
With deep concern and anxiety, we are observing the events in Georgia which at this moment is under intensive attacks by the army of the Russian Federation.
more »
According to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, the international community should be worried about the military tension that has sparkled in Georgia.
more »