FODAH Sankoh, the leader of the Sierra Leonean rebel movement whose forces invaded Freetown last week, is in protective custody in Conakry, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. Fighting between his Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and Nigerian-led West African ECOMOG intervention troops continued on Wednesday in the Sierra Leonean capital, according to the missionary agency Misna. On Tuesday, Sankoh met Ivorian and Togolese foreign ministers Amara Essy and Joseph Koffigoh. According to the ministers, Sankoh expressed a “willingness for peace” and said a “political, not a military solution” was necessary to end the crisis. However, the rebel leader did not officially call for a ceasefire. Sankoh has asked to be freed, diplomatic sources said.