No subject

Copyright (C) Reuters Limited 2000.
Reuters English News Service
October 11, 2000

HEADLINE: Guinea radio says dozens of rebels killed in south.

CONAKRY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Dozens of rebels were killed or wounded in
the south of Guinea in the latest clash between government troops and
rebels near the border with Sierra Leone, state radio said on Wednesday.

The radio quoted the official Guinean News Agency as saying the fighting
took place on Tuesday in the Pamelap area. There was large-scale damage
to villages as the rebels tried to reach the main town in the region,
Forecariah, it said.

"Alert government troops in the area beat them back, inflicting heavy
casualties on them," the radio said.

Military sources said government forces suffered eight casualties in the
attack. The commander of the government troops was among the wounded.

The identity of the attackers was not known.

A raid from across the border with Sierra Leone was launched in the same
area in early September. It was unclear if the insurgents then were
Guinean dissidents or, as some witnesses said, Sierra Leonean rebels of
the Revolutionary United Front.

A host of dissident groups and armed gangs are active in the volatile
triangle comprising Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Guinea has accused
nationals of both the other countries of being involved in recent
attacks on its territory.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Copyright 2000 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Monitoring
October 11, 2000

HEADLINE: Vice-president says recent attacks "contained", Guinean troops
killed
SOURCE: Radio Liberia International, Monrovia, in English 0700 gmt 11
Oct 00

Text of report by Liberian pro-Charles Taylor radio on 11th October

The Liberian government says its forces have contained recent attacks on
its positions by Liberian dissidents and Guinean troops in Zorzor
District, Lofa County. Addressing a press conference yesterday in
Monrovia, the vice-president of Liberia, Moses Blah, revealed that
several Guinean forces were killed and others injured during the battle
for Zorzor District.

According to Vice-President Blah, government troops are presently
pursuing the enemy forces to their hideouts and their bases in order to
destroy their ability to make war. Vice-President Blah disclosed that
the government has [word indistinct] its constitutional mandate to
protect the territorial integrity of the country. He said the latest
attack on Zorzor and its environs by Guinean troops has caused a massive
humanitarian crisis leaving thousands of people displaced and causing
them to seek refuge in the forest.

Meanwhile, the Liberian government is calling on humanitarian

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Copyright 2000 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Monitoring
October 11, 2000

HEADLINE: Guinean national arrested for using high frequency
communication radio

Text of report by Liberian pro-Charles Taylor radio on 11th October

Police in Monrovia have arrested a Guinean national for allegedly using
a high frequency communication radio to dispatch sensitive security
information to Guinean authorities. The man identified as Jean Belo
[phonetic] was arrested yesterday morning by a team of police officers
headed by Director of Police Paul Mulbah at the office of [words
indistinct].

Briefing journalists following the arrest, Director Mulbah said he had
been taken to the police station for further investigation. He disclosed
that the police had been monitoring the movement and activities of the
man, Jean Belo, for a protracted period.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Copyright UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2000
October 11, 2000

U N I T E D  N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa

LIBERIA: Mission to assess displaced

ABIDJAN, 11 October (IRIN) - A team of 13 non-governmental organisations
plan to travel to Liberia's northern Lofa county on Thursday to verify
the number of people displaced by fighting last week and assess their
needs, a humanitarian source told IRIN on Wednesday.   The source said
it was unclear how many people had been displaced from the fighting on
Friday and Saturday in and around the town of Zorzor, about 210 km
northeast of the capital, Monrovia. Government officials said on
Wednesday that more than 10,000 people had been displaced.

Humanitarian workers are cautious in their approach to providing
assistance because humanitarian aid could be a potential target for
hungry and poorly paid fighters in Liberia, or those seeking to
destabilise the country.    "Twice we have organized food distribution
and twice fighting has occurred," said the humanitarian source. "We have
to be more and more careful when it comes to food distribution." The
Liberian and Guinean governments have accused each other of harbouring
dissidents and being behind attacks on their territory.

SIERRA LEONE: Security Council team visits

ABIDJAN, 11 October (IRIN) - Officials from the UN Observer mission in
Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) told a visiting team from the UN Security Council
that the situation in the country was "complex, unpredictable and
volatile", according to a UN spokesman in New York.

The Security Council delegation was briefed in the eastern town of
Kenema. The spokesman said Tuesday that concerns "include the issue of
border security and the need to close the porous borders to the outflow
of diamonds and to stop external support for the Revolutionary United
Front (RUF)".

Prior to arriving in Sierra Leone, the team met with officials in
Guinea, which has been fighting against cross-border attacks by armed
men from Sierra Leone and Liberia since early September. There are
unconfirmed reports that Guineans might have placed guns inside Sierra
Leone, to help beat back the incursions, UNAMSIL spokesman Hirut
Befecadu told a press conference on Tuesday.

"It has been indicated by the UNAMSIL Kenyan Battalion that are deployed
at Babara and Barlo Wharf that there has been continued shelling on
Kassiri, Tombo, Kechum and other places around that area on the night of
the 8-9 October," Befecadu said. "This information collaborates with
earlier reports that the Guineans might have placed guns inside Kambia."

The 11-member Security Council team is on a five-nation trip to West
Africa aimed at reviewing UN operations in Sierra Leone and exploring
ways to promote stability in the region. The team is expected to return
to New York on 15 October following stops in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali,
Nigeria and Liberia.

[These items are delivered in the "africa-english" service of the UN's
IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the
views of the United Nations. For further information, free
subscriptions, or to change your keywords, contact e-mail:
irin at ocha.unon.org or Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN . If you re-
print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and
disclaimer. Reposting by commercial sites requires written IRIN
permission.]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
October 12, 2000

HEADLINE: Weary Liberian refugees begin returning from Guinea
DATELINE: MONROVIA, Oct 12

A first batch of 435 Liberian refugees, some of whom were beaten and
raped by Guinean security forces, returned to Monrovia on Thursday, as
cross-border raids between the two countries intensified.

The refugees, many of whom looked dejected and malnourished, arrived in
Monrovia aboard a Sierra Leonean registered vessel after a two-day
voyage, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported.

Thirty-two of the refugees were children, according to John Miaway, a
Liberia refugee agency official who travelled to Guinea to assist the
refugee repatriation.

The refugees were met at Monrovia's Freeport by an array of government
officials headed by Vice President Moses Blah.

On Wednesday, Blah said Liberian troops had driven insurgents out of an
area near the Guinean border after an attack and accused Guinean troops
of taking part in the raid.

Blah also warned that Liberia would defend its borders.

"As a sovereign state, we have a right to protect our territorial
integrity," he said.

Guinea has denied any part in the fighting and on Tuesday accused
Liberian aircraft of attacking a town in its territory.

Southwestern Guinea and northern Liberian have become a powderkeg, with
authorities in Conakry accusing the refugee population of fuelling a
rebellion.

In September, security forces in the Guinean capital rounded up
thousands of Liberian, Sierra Leonean and Burkinabe refugees, beating
and raping scores of them, according to human rights groups.

The refugees arriving here Thursday told AFP harrowing stories of
maltreatment at the hands of Guinean soldiers.

One who identified himself as Patrick Kamara said many of the refugees
were taken to a military barracks in Conakry and forced to do manual
labour such as sweep and cleaning.

Another refugee, Jendu Brown, who sought refuge in Liberian embassy said
refugees were taken out of the embassy residence and beaten every
morning.

A female refugee said her husband was accused of being a rebel and
killed.

Another woman who was sheltered at the Liberian embassy, said at one
point Guinean soldiers barged into the Liberian ambassador's residence,
pulled down the Liberian flag and burnt it. Soldiers raped women and
beat up some men, she said.

The Liberian government has condemned the treatment of its nationals in
Guinea.

On Thursday, the vice president said the government would do everything
possible to bring back remaining Liberians.

Liberia had tried to conduct the repatriation by plane but accused
authorities in Conakry of blocking such efforts.

Also on hand to receive the refugees here were representatives of relief
agencies including the French charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors
Without Borders) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Upon disembarking, the returnees were screened by immigration officials
and vaccinated against yellow fever.

A special tent was set up to treat returnees who needed urgent medical
attention.

Refugees with no relatives in Monrovia were taken to a special transit
site set up by the UNHCR on a main highway about ten kilometers (six
miles) east of Monrovia where they were given temporary shelter

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Below are the Liberia-related portions of a briefing yesterday at the
State Department.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2000 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
October 11, 2000

HEADLINE: STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING
BRIEFER: RICHARD BOUCHER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN
LOCATION: STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ROOM, WASHINGTON, D.C.

MR. BOUCHER: Okay. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to
be putting out a travel advisory on Liberia.

Q You did already.

MR. BOUCHER: We already did? Good for us. We're fast. (Laughter.)

As you know, yesterday, we issued a set of -- imposed a set of visa
sanctions on government of Liberia officials and their family members.
This may generate anti-American sentiment in Liberia, and we've moved to
order departure from Liberia of U.S. embassy personnel in non-emergency
positions, so we want the general public to know about that --

Q The statement doesn't --

MR. BOUCHER: -- and to take it into account.

Q The statement doesn't say why you have decided to bar Liberian
officials and their family members from coming to the country though.

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think --

Q The question's been asked.

MR. BOUCHER: That's true. That's in the -- it's not necessarily in the
travel advisory itself.

Q No.

MR. BOUCHER: I think you all know that in the statement by the president
on the visa restrictions, they explained why we were taking those steps,
particularly because of Liberia's trafficking in weapons and illicit
diamonds that helps fuel the war in Sierra Leone.

Q Richard, you said they were imposed yesterday, but the White House
statement came out this morning. So when were they imposed, yesterday or
today?

MR. BOUCHER: This morning it came out -- right?

STAFF: (Off mike.)

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, today. That's right.

Q Do you know how many people the ordered departure affects, and how
many Americans are registered as living in Liberia?

MR. BOUCHER: Do we have those numbers? We don't discuss specific numbers
in most of these cases. Our mission there is under 40 people. People
will leave in the coming days. As far as number of Americans registered
in Liberia, I don't think we have a number on that, either.

Q There's a phrase there, "non-emergency," that all but non- emergency
people. I mean, I've heard of non-essential, but what's an emergency?

MR. BOUCHER: I know. But people don't like to be called non- essential.

Q Oh, yeah. (Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: So --

Q Or would they rather stay and be called emergency people --

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. I mean --

Q -- and risk their lives? Is that the idea?

MR. BOUCHER: We wouldn't have these people overseas unless they were
essential to our national interests in one way or the other. But in an
emergency situation, you can't do -- there are a lot of things you can't
necessarily do. There are things that need to be done in emergencies and
a lot of normal, routine business that you can't do. So I think "non-
emergency" is probably a better phrase. I'm not sure if we're using it
consistently, but it certainly is better.

Q Can I just ask -- under 40 people in the embassy total?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

Q So we're talking about, what, a dozen or so that would have to leave?

MR. BOUCHER: Some portion of that. But again, we try not to get into
specifics on this because of security.

Q Okay. And is there only an embassy in Monrovia? I assume there are no
consulates outside of --

MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of.

Q And do you have a list drawn up of the people who are subject to this
visa ban, apart from Charles Taylor?

MR. BOUCHER: Again, I'm not sure. (To staff) Does that go out with --

Q I mean, at some stage you'll obviously need to specify.

MR. BOUCHER: At some stage we do. I'll have to check on that one for
you.

All right. Next things.
. . .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amnesty International USA
Concerned Sierra Leoneans in North America, Inc
The Sierra Leone Emergency Network
The South Africa Initiative of Riverside Church

In cooperation with Africa advocacy, human rights, and humanitarian
organizations

URGES YOU TO Rally For Sierra Leone

Although Sierra Leone has captured the world's attention by the RUF
rebels attacking and taking UN peacekeepers hostage, the story receiving
less coverage is their new reign of terror on innocent civilians. The
RUF has resumed its campaign of murder, rape, amputations of limbs,
arson, and the abduction of young children to serve as rebel soldiers or
sex slaves.

The Clinton Administration has done very little beyond diplomacy for
Sierra Leone.  Congressional leaders are seeking to cut all funding
designated to support UN peacekeeping in Africa.  And, in spite of media
coverage and international outrage, Sierra Leone's humanitarian needs
and human rights abuses are not being effectively addressed.

---  End The Brutality Against Innocent Civilians!
---  Stop The Blood Diamond Trade
---  Fund The United Nations Peacekeepers

Saturday - October 28th, 2000 - 1 pm
Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive, New York City
[Use Claremont Avenue entrance North from West 120th St]

Hear Testimonies from Victims, Speakers, Music.

Sierra Leone Hotline:  212 479-7734
Sierra Leone Emergency Network: 914 576-8771

For more information contact SLEN at 914 576-8771 or
ronmitchell3 at hotmail.com.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

October 11, 2000
Dear Friends,

Just a reminder that the ABC television program 20/20 will do a story on
Sierra Leone and diamonds airing tomorrow evening (Thursday), October
12. If you have comments or reactions to the show, we'd be happy to pass
them along to the producers.

Update on Peacekeeping Funds:

As of today, House and Senate negotiators have begun informal
discussions with OMB (The Office of Management and Budget) regarding
various matters including UN peacekeeping funds. The Administration,
which is apparently taking a firm stand on the issue, is asking for $850
million to fully meet our commitment to the UN to pay for 25 percent of
all missions. Though the US pledged to fund UN peacekeeping in last
year's Helms-Biden bill, the Senate allocated just $288 million in
FY2001 and the House allocated $498 million, while essentially zeroing
out all missions in Africa. Our friends at the Better World Campaign are
cautiously optimistic that the numbers will be improved in light of the
Administration's strong commitment, but we must keep the pressure on.

The best action you can take right now is to call the White House and
encourage President Clinton's strong stand. Simply leave a message
indicating your support for full payment with the switch board 202/456-
1414. For those of you with influence on editorial boards, it's also an
excellent time for editorials and op-eds on the subject.

An interesting note: According to a recent poll, 54% of active voters
disapprove of the US withholding any of the money it owes for UN
peacekeeping.

Please call me or the Susan Myers at the Better World Fund 202/462-4900
if you have any questions.

Thanks for your interest.

Kristina Hare Lyons
Physicians for Human Rights
KLyons at phrusa.org