Militia releases five British troops

Renegade militiamen calling themselves the West Side Boys released on Wednesday five of the 11 British troops they had detained along with a Sierra Leonean officer since last weekend, British military spokesman Lieutenant Commander Tony Cramp told IRIN on Thursday. He said the men, who had been declared medically fit after an examination, were released to other British troops and then taken to their Benguema military training camp southeast of the capital, Freetown. Negotiations to free the remaining six soldiers of the 1st Battalion of The Royal Irish Regiment and their Sierra Leonean army liaison officer continue, Cramp said. Discussions are being conducted by UNAMSIL, British officials and Sierra Leone’s government. Cramp said a Jordanian UNAMSIL battalion stationed at Masiaka, some 70 km east of Freetown, had been particularly active in securing the men’s release. He said he could not discuss demands reportedly made by the kidnappers while negotiations to free the remaining detainees were ongoing. Reuters reported on Wednesday that relatives of the renegades had agreed to join in the effort but Cramp said he was unaware of this development.