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Rebels “trapped” in east

[DRC] The town of Bunia, Ituri District, Oriental Province, DRC May 2003 IRIN
The town of Bunia, Ituri District.
    NAIROBI
    Troops of the West African intervention force, ECOMOG, have encircled rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in the eastern outskirts of the capital, Freetown, cutting off their escape routes, news agencies said today (Friday). “The remnants of the rebels are trapped there by our troops,” President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was quoted as saying by the BBC. News agencies said rebels retreating from east Freetown had yesterday (Thursday) killed civilians and cut off people’s limbs, with dozens of mutilation victims arriving at the city’s dilapidated Connaught Hospital. Humanitarian sources said although the situation was gradually improving, the city remained tense. Meanwhile, ECOMOG commander Brigadier General Abu Ahmadu told AP that a number of child rebel soldiers had been taken prisoner and turned over to authorities for rehabilitation.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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