International contact group supports peace process

An international Contact Group on Sierra Leone suggested in New York on Monday that the government of Sierra Leone and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) maintain a twin-track policy of negotiations and force to restore peace to the country. In a concluding statement at the end of a day-long meeting, the group's chairman, British Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tony Lloyd told representatives of 22 countries and other agencies that the Sierra Leone government should pursue dialogue with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel movement "as a matter of priority". He called on Freetown to explain the benefits of this policy to the public. He also said the government should maintain respect for human rights, international humanitarian law and promptly investigate reported violations of these standards.