November 11, 2001
The number of Sierra Leone combatants who have turned in their weapons has exceeded the 30,000 target set by the government, rebel groups and the United Nations, a U.N. spokeswoman said. As of Friday, 30,295 combatants had turned in their weapons, Margaret Novicki said Saturday. Disarmament began after a cease-fire was signed last November by parties in the country's brutal 10-year conflict.
All sides expect to complete disarmament in the northern Tonkolili and southern Pujehum districts by Nov. 14, after which the process will move to the eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun.
Novicki said the U.N. was pleased with recent cooperation by rebels and pro-government militia fighters and expressed hoped that nationwide disarmament would be completed by a Nov. 30 deadline.
During the decade-long conflict, Sierra Leon's Revolutionary United Front rebels raped, maimed and killed tens of thousands of civilians in a campaign to seize control of the government and lucrative diamond fields. They signed - and abandoned - three peace accords before agreeing to the latest cease-fire.
Peace efforts moved forward this year as the rebels came under heavy pressure from British troops, the military of neighboring Guinea and a U.N. peacekeeping force that is the world's largest.
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