Civilians attacked near Port Loko, reports say

Sierra Leonean rebels attacked areas near the town of Port Loko, north of Freetown, at the end of last week, according to various sources.

AFP reported state radio as saying that at least three people were killed and others robbed in the attacks.

A humanitarian source whose organisation has operations in the area said civilians had been looted in an attack near Port Loko but had heard no reports of casualties.

ECOMOG spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Olukolade was unable to confirm the attacks. Olukolade told IRIN on Wednesday that the road between Port Loko and Kambia, which was controlled by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), was patrolled by Guinean troops but that ECOMOG did not have a permanent presence in the area.

In a report issued last week UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed serious concern about “the rising level of lawlessness and banditry … in the areas of Lungi and Port Loko”.