UN peacekeepers and military observers have just completed a reconnaissance mission to the diamond-rich town of Koidu, eastern Sierra Leone, a UN spokeswoman reported on Tuesday in New York.
The convoy, which included five military observers and a platoon of Kenyan peacekeeping troops, was tasked with assessing the condition of the road to Koidu. Associate spokeswoman Maria Okabe said that, according to reports, the convoy was cheered by crowds as it passed.
The UN peacekeepers were blocked at a rebel checkpoint about 120 km from Koidu. In order not to cancel the patrol altogether, the military observers and an information officer went alone to visit the town, the UN reported.
The mission returned to Freetown on Tuesday.
The UN Force Commander, Major General Vijay Jetley, will be deploying Indian peacekeeping troops to rebel-held Koidu, but it is not yet known when this will be, a UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) source in Freetown told IRIN on Wednesday.
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