Kabbah’s peace initiative unaffected by rebel attacks, spokesman says

Presidential spokesman Septimus Kaikai confirmed to IRIN that rebels had attacked Kenema over the past two days, but said they were repelled and, according to information he had received, ECOMOG troops were in control of the town. He said President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s offer of a peace dialogue was “very sincere” and would not be affected by the latest attacks. However the rebels’ intentions should be questioned “as they wouldn’t be doing such things if they were sincere”. Kaikai added that third parties, such as the OAU and Commonwealth Secretariat, were involved in contacts between the two sides, but he was not aware a venue had yet been decided for the meetings. Kabbah has said he is prepared to talk to the rebels, as well as permitting jailed Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader Foday Sankoh to meet his rebel commanders in a bid to reach a peace settlement. The situation in Freetown, Kaikai told IRIN, was “approaching normality” and people were trying to resume their daily activities. The Freetown correspondent of Star Radio said calm was returning to the devastated eastern suburb of Wellington and residents were rebuilding makeshift homes.