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(The following is a further special update of the situation in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The regular IRIN-West Africa Update of events in West Africa will move later.)
ABIDJAN, 6 DECEMBER (IRIN) - Sierra Leonean rebels battling the West African intervention force, ECOMOG, for control of Freetown have captured and burned the police headquarters just 700 metres from the official residence of the president, a UN official in neighbouring Guinea told IRIN today (Wednesday).
The official, who was earlier in radio contact with colleagues still in the city, said rebels "had gained access" to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) premises and had taken over the UN House. Three UNOMSIL officials in the building were able to escape, the official said.
The rebels, mostly former Sierra Leone army troops, he said, had taken control of "most of the strategic points of the city. The rebels had moved into Kingtom, Brookfields and some parts and Aberdeen, near the centre of the city. But Reuters reported that the Nigerian-led peacekeepers had blocked further rebel advances.
Speaking over state radio today, Information Minister Julius Spencer urged residents to stay indoors. "Anyone found in the streets will be considered a rebel," AFP quoted him as saying.
Fighting started at 01:00 GMT today in the eastern suburbs of the city. News agencies quoted residents as saying ECOMOG Alpha jets bombed hills overlooking the city while other aircraft circled over the capital. Residents in the city's Eastend said jets also bombed a radio station which had been taken over by the rebels and ECOMOG troops were now combing the city for the rebels.
Reuters quoted ECOMOG officers patrolling the city as saying that it would take them some time to flush out the rebels for fear of killing civilians. The rebels vowed last week they would take over Freetown which diplomatic and military sources said would not be possible. ECOMOG could not be reached for comment on the situation because telephone lines in the city are down.
Abidjan, 6 December 1999, 15:00 GMT
[ENDS]
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 15:18:04 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.ocha.unon.org> Subject: SIERRA LEONE: Rebels burn police headquarters 1999.01.06
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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