Britain to send more military equipment

Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that ammunition and kit would be sent to the government of Sierra Leone and that British soldiers would run another six-week training course in the country. Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon said some five million rounds of ammunition would be sent to help meet urgent operational needs, subject to further reassurances that it would only be used by regular Sierra Leone Army (SLA) soldiers and not by child soldiers. Before the ammunition can be delivered, the government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) will need an exemption from a moratorium on small arms imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The kit will include boots and ponchos, the news release said. The ammunition is the second lot to be provided by Britain. On 29 June, the British government announced that it would supply some five million rounds of ammunition and 4,000 rounds of mortar ammunition to the GOSL.