Sierra Leone rebels in disarming protest

The rebel Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone says it has suspended its disarmament programme because of United Nations travel restrictions on one of its leaders.

The RUF spokesman, Gibril Massaquoi, told Reuters news agency the official, Omrie Golley, had been prevented from travelling under UN sanctions imposed on Liberia for its support of the Sierra Leone rebels.

Mr Massaquoi also complained about continuing attacks by pro-government militias, and the refusal of the Sierra Leone government to release detained RUF fighters.

He said that the RUF would be meeting senior officials of the UN peacekeeping force UNAMSIL later this month to discuss the situation.

Earlier this week, leaders of the UN mission in Sierra Leone said they were experiencing difficulties in getting the warring factions to disarm.

The commander of the mission, General Daniel Opande, told reporters in Freetown considerable distrust remained between the warring factions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service