The United Nations says that landmines pose a limited problem in Sierra Leone and can be dealt with by the UN peacekeeping mission there.

The statement followed a visit by the UN Mine Action Service, amid press reports that uncleared mines were presenting a major problem.

A United Nations spokeswoman said the reports did not seem borne out by the available evidence, although there had been a small number of well-documented reports of civilian injuries from land mines and unexploded ammunition. She said the UN team had held talks with the former warring parties and traveled to towns in the north and east of the country.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service