/ 15 December 1999

SIERRA LEONE TO MISS DISARMAMENT DEADLINE

SIERRA Leone will miss Wednesday’s deadline for disarming some 45000 civil war combatants but will consider new strategies to speed up the process, Information Minister Julius Spencer said. “This will not be accomplished due to delays and mistrust among parties involved in implementation of the peace process,” Spencer said on Tuesday. The July 7 peace accord, signed by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and his rebel foes to end a nine-year conflict, set December 15 for the completion of demobilisation of fighters. Spencer said the national committee dealing with disarmament would meet on Wednesday to review the situation.