ECOMOG denies reports of rebel attack on Kabala

ECOMOG said on Wednesday its troops were fully in control of Kabala, a major town in Sierra Leone's Northern Province, some 50km north east of the capital Freetown. The announcement was made in response to a Reuters dispatch which said the town was under siege and that ECOMOG forces had seen off "waves of attacks" since rebels moved into the area late last week. ECOMOG spokesman, Lt-Col Chris Olukolade, told IRIN: "The reports are not true. Troops were undergoing regular manoeuvres and some people in the area were concerned. They were assured by ECOMOG that there was no need to panic as its soldiers were in full control and there was no attack." Kabala is known as the cattle capital of Sierra Leone, and is the only major northern town to have resisted the rebel offensive which began late last year. It used to produce about two thirds of the meat consumed in Freetown before rebels overran the north and cut off supply routes, Reuters reported.