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President, rebel leader agree on ceasefire

    ABIDJAN

    President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and rebel leader Foday Sankoh have signed a ceasefire agreement in Lome, Togo, news organisations reported on Tuesday.

    Tuesday's agreement was witnessed by US special envoy Jesse Jackson and Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who has been leading mediation efforts to resolve the conflict.

    According to news reports, the ceasefire would come into effect on 24 May, when foreign ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are expected to meet in Lome to discuss Sierra Leone's problems.

    It was also agreed that direct talks between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) would begin on the following day, 25 May.

    The two sides also agreed to safe and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations to all people in need and the immediate release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants. The parties are also to ask the UN to deploy military observers as soon as possible to observe compliance with the agreement, subject to approval by the Security Council.

    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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