ECOMOG says rebels retreating

A spokesman for the West African intervention force ECOMOG has denied media reports of renewed fighting in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Olukolade told IRIN today there had been some heavy weapons fire overnight aimed at driving out or capturing Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels hiding in the hills surrounding the city. He stressed the rebels were on the retreat and ECOMOG was ensuring Freetown was “free of their activities”. The number of pockets of rebels still said to be hiding out in Freetown had “reduced drastically,” he added. There was a simultaneous operation in the rest of the country to flush out the rebels, Olukolade said. An AP report on Saturday said hundreds of people were attempting to flee the beleaguered city, despite appeals broadcast over state radio urging them to stay. Reports say residents are afraid that when the Nigerian contingent of ECOMOG withdraws by the announced date of 29 May, they will remain defenceless against rebel attack.