Ex-rebels out of Sierra Leone poll

Sankoh cannot vote or stand in the election

The Revolutionary United Front Party will not contest Sierra Leone's 14 May presidential elections, following the banning of its leader, Foday Sankoh.

But the former rebels have pledged that their withdrawal will not lead to a new bout of fighting and they will field candidates in the parliamentary elections due on the same day.

In the interest of peace we will not put up a presidential candidate

Paulo Bangura, RUFP

Mr Sankoh, who is standing trial for murder, has not been allowed to run because he is not a registered voter.

The election follows the official end of Sierra Leone's civil war, which killed tens of thousands of people.

It was declared over in January, when thousands of rebels handed in their weapons to United Nations peacekeepers.

'Confident'

The deadline for registering was extended by 24 hours until Wednesday to give the RUFP time to decide whether or not to field someone other than Mr Sankoh.

"In the interest of peace we will not put up a presidential candidate because of some logistical problems," said former minister Paolo Bangura as he handed in his party's nomination papers for the parliamentary poll in Freetown.

President Kabbah is confident

He was accompanied by interim RUF leader Issa Sesay and Eldred Collins, spokesman of the RUFP.

The current President, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, is standing for re-election on the ticket of the Sierra Leone People's Party.

"I am confident that I am going to win as president for the second time," Mr Kabbah said.

Six other candidates include the former military leader, Johnny Paul Koroma and one woman, Zainab Bangura, of the Movement for Progress Party.