New year warning for Sierra Leone army

The military government of Sierra Leone has warned its troops not to fire into the air to celebrate New Year in case this provokes a response from the Nigerian-led African intervention force in the country.

Relations have been tense between the Sierra Leone army and the Nigerian troops who are enforcing an international air and sea blockade to force the military rulers in Sierra Leone to return power to the ousted civilian president.

The BBC West Africa correspondent says a propaganda war has been building up between the two sides with serious security implications for the whole of west Africa region.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service