Clashes in the north

Clashes between two rebel factions in the northern towns of Makeni and Lunsar have now ended, ECOMOG spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Olukolade told IRIN on Monday. “There has been recent fighting between rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the (ex-)Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) but it has now subsided,” Olukolade said. He described the fighting last week in Lunsar as a “backlash” by the ex-AFRC after its forces were expelled by the RUF from Makeni nearly two week ago. He said both sides had suffered casualties during the clashes, but there were no further details. According to Olukolade, the RUF now control Makeni but it was not clear which side had the upper hand in Lunsar. Hundreds of civilians have been displaced by the fighting, he said, adding that ECOMOG had also received reports of looting by rebel forces.