RUF wants partnership with civil society

The Revolutionary United Front (RUF), battling to oust Sierra Leone President Alhadji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, wants to play an "integral role in a new transitional government which would be a partnership of civil society and the people", RUF legal advisor Omrie Golley told IRIN on Thursday. He added that the RUF "did not want to power share". He was referring to a RUF demand for the establishment of a four-year transitional government. The demand was made in a report the rebels presented on Tuesday - following internal consultations they held in Togo - to Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who is leading regional efforts to end the conflict. A key demand is the unconditional release of Foday Sankoh. Golley said Sankoh, as RUF leader, had "an extremely important role to play in a transitional government". Sankoh, awaiting an appeal against his treason conviction, was freed temporarily from prison for the intra-RUF consultations, which were to set the tone for proposed peace talks with Kabbah's government. However, it remained unclear when the peace talks would begin.