Sierra Leone's Rebel Leader Captured
2000-05-17

Nations Zambia Event 2000 Sierra Leone Crisis

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - Stripped naked by his captors, Sierra Leone's notorious rebel chief was seized by pro-government troops, prompting spontaneous street celebrations today in the capital of this war-weary nation.

Foday Sankoh, whose rebel group has killed thousands and terrorized civilians in this impoverished West African nation, was brought to defense headquarters early this morning, according to British Lt. Cmdr. Tony Cramp, spokesman for the British forces in the country.

At the request of Sierra Leone, a British helicopter flew Sankoh to the nearby Lungi Airport. Britain then transported Sankoh to a ''secure location,'' and he was being held by the Sierra Leone authorities, Cramp said.

Pro-government forces captured the rebel leader and then stripped portly, bearded Sankoh to humiliate him as he was brought to defense headquarters, the British officer said.

The British troops are in Sierra Leone to assist with the troubled U.N. peacekeeping mission.

As word of Sankoh's capture spread through the capital, civilians rushed into the streets to rejoice. Government soldiers armed with rocket launchers and automatic rifles chased away the crowd and maintained a heavy presence in front of the defense compound.

''The masses must decide what to do with him,'' said SK Shyly, an engineer who drove to the compound.

''But I say he is not fit to exist,'' Shyly added. ''He made the people of this country suffer for nine years.''

Despite the commotion in the streets, there was no official word from the government or state-run radio on Sankoh's status.

The rebel leader disappeared last week when thousands of demonstrators opposed to him gathered in front of his home in Freetown. Fighters from Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front opened fire on the civilians. Nineteen people were killed.

Since then, there were daily rumors - but no confirmation - of Sankoh's whereabouts. Some said he had fled to rebel strongholds in the interior of the country, others said he had slipped into neighboring Liberia. There also were unconfirmed reports that he had suffered a heart attack, or was dead.

Sierra Leone's fragile 10-month peace accord unraveled this month when the rebels seized 500 U.N. peacekeepers and resumed clashes with pro-government forces.

Sankoh has been widely blamed for undermining the peace effort. His capture could help restore order if his rebel fighters agree to work with the U.N. mission.

It was not immediately clear whether the rebels would respond to Sankoh's reported capture with cooperation or confrontation.

Liberian President Charles Taylor helped negotiate the release of 139 U.N. hostages over the weekend. Late Tuesday, 93 of them were flown from the Liberian capital, Monrovia, to the Freetown airport at nearby Lungi on board a U.N. aircraft.

Oluyemi Adeniji, the U.N. special representative to Sierra Leone, welcomed them back, saying their contribution would continue and the peacekeeping mission would succeed, according to U.N. spokesman David Wimhurst.

''They will rest up, wash, feed, have a good night's sleep,'' and return to their national commanders today, Wimhurst said.

Seventy-nine were Zambians and 14 were Kenyans. While one came off the plane on crutches and at least two were bandaged, none appeared to be seriously injured.

The remainder of the freed hostages are in the remote Liberian border town of Foya, but were expect to be flown to Monrovia today.

Taylor, who has close ties to the rebels, said Liberian negotiators were trying to secure the release of the remaining 350 captives, most of whom are believed to be Zambian. The talks were taking place at a rebel base in Sierra Leone, he said. It remained unclear who was handling the negotiations on the rebel side.

Up to 40 of the captive peacekeepers are languishing with illnesses and injuries, including gunshot wounds, Taylor said.

There was no word on the seriousness of their ailments. The rebels' bases, generally crude camps cut out of the rain forest, have little medical care available and no modern facilities.

During their eight-year campaign against the government, the rebels killed tens of thousands of people and mutilated and dismembered many more in a bid to gain power through intimidation. AP