WorldView

Fragile Peace Process in Sierra Leone in Serious Danger of Collapse

Aired May 6, 2000 - 6:04 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The fragile peace process in Sierra Leone is in serious danger of collapse. The United Nations says it has lost contact with 200 more peacekeepers in the area, and they may have been taken hostage. That would bring to almost 500 the number of peacekeepers taken captive by rebels in the West African nation. At least four U.N. soldiers have been reported killed. They had been trying to oversee a recent powersharing deal between the government and the rebels, ending the country's brutal civil war.

ITN's Andrew Simmons has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW SIMMONS, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): It was nearly six months ago that the U.N. sent its force into Sierra Leone to back a peace deal which ended eight years of civil war, but the Revolutionary United Front, said to be the most brutal rebel force to emerge in Africa for a decade, is now reported to be holding more than 300 U.N. soldiers, and armored personal carriers.

FRED ECKHARD, U.N. SPOKESMAN: The emphasis is not to go, at this point, to go to war against the RUF; it's to try to find a political solution.

SIMMONS: America's ambassador to the U.N. warned how serious the situation is becoming.

RICHARD HOLBROOKE, U.S. ENVOY: U.N. peacekeepers have been taken hostage. That is an unacceptable situation, and it obviously -- it would threaten U.N. peacekeepers all over the world.

SIMMONS: At least one British officer is amongst those being held. The British advisory team on its way (ph) has made for more free services.

Andrew Simmons, ITN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www. fdch. com