International community lauds agreement

Welcoming the accord, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the parties to honour their commitments and saluted the political courage of Kabbah and regional leaders who backed the peace effort. Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku hailed the agreement and urged all parties to commit themselves to its implementation in good faith and in a timely manner. The Commonwealth will do its best to assist in this process, he said. "Sierra Leone, no less than Kosovo, demands the attention of the world community, and the wholehearted commitment to peace and reconstruction of all those in leadership in Sierra Leone," Anyaoku said. "The people of Sierra Leone, who have borne the brunt of the horrors of this war, will not forgive us if we fail."