Sierra Leone rebel leader sought

The wife of the detained Sierra Leonean rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, has begun proceedings in the High Court in London to determine the whereabouts of her husband.

Foday Sankoh, whose followers committed widespread atrocities during the civil war, has not been seen in public since his arrest by Sierra Leonian militiamen and the British army in May.

Officially, both governments say he is in the custody of Sierra Leonean police.

But Mrs Sankoh's lawyers have now issued a writ in the British High Court on the grounds that the British government has some responsibility for his whereabouts.

The hearing has been adjourned until later this month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service