More Zambian troops expected

Zambia has not sent its entire contingent of over 700 soldiers to Sierra Leone, contrary to reports on Monday by news organisations, a source in UNAMSIL's Public Information Office told IRIN on Wednesday. "So far, there are 477 soldiers from Zambia in Sierra Leone awaiting deployment," he
said.

He said a first batch of 146 Zambian soldiers that arrived last week was followed on Monday by a second which numbered 331. "The rest will be here before the end of the month [April]," he said.

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) now has nearly 8,000 troops, he said. Nigeria has the largest contingent: 3,183 troops divided into four battalions. They are deployed in the Freetown area and nearby Lungi international airport, Pepel and Tasso Island, as well as Port Loko and Lunsar, both north of the capital, and Masiaka, which is east of Freetown.

Kenya has 827 soldiers deployed in the northern areas of Makeni and Magburaka, while 776 Ghanaians are in Kenema, Daru and Mano junction in the east. There are 775 Guineans, stationed in the southern areas of Bo, Mile 91 and Moyamba.

The Indian contingent -- 1,655 soldiers -- is deployed in Daru, Kailahun in the east, Lungi and Hastings, which is close to Freetown, while the 110 Jordanians, like the Zambians, are awaiting deployment.

As of 26 March, there were 259 military observers, but the UNAMSIL official pointed out that the number could have gone up. "They come on almost a daily basis from different countries," he said.