Sierra Leone: Seized UK troops 'may have entered rebel area'

Sierra Leone: conflicting claims on where British troops were captured

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (CNN) -- UK defence officials have admitted 11 British soldiers, seized by a rebel group, could have been deep inside militia-held territory when they were captured.

The comments follow a report that the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in the West African state disputed the official British account of the circumstances in which the men were taken.

Nigerian General Mohammed Garba told the BBC that the soldiers, from the Royal Irish Regiment, had been travelling in a dangerous rebel area without informing the UN.

He denied earlier British claims that they were captured while driving back to Freetown after meeting Jordanian UN peacekeepers near the town of Masiaka, around 75 km (47 miles) to the east of the capital.

MESSAGE BOARD Crisis in Sierra Leone

But in Freetown on Wednesday, a British military spokesman played down any argument between the two forces.

"The General stated that he believed the soldiers may have been seized in rebel territory and we are not disputing that," Lt. Cdr. Tony Cramp told CNN.com.

"The fact is that we don't know and we won't know until we have had a chance to speak to the men themselves."

British and UN officials are working together, he said, to try to bring the hostage crisis to a speedy and successful conclusion.

On Tuesday negotiators had a brief meeting with one of the captives, accompanied by some members of the so-called West Side Boys rebel group.

No details have been given about where the meeting took place, or what was said, but it is has been revealed that the group leader known as Brigadier Kalla was there.

Cramp said he was hopeful that more talks would be held on Wednesday.

"The negotiations continue in a calm and positive manner. We have been assured that the soldiers are safe and well."

Relatives of the West Side Boys have said they will try to persuade the renegade troops to hand over their hostages.

They are planning to meet the captors in their bush stronghold -- perhaps as early as Wednesday.

The West Side boys are soldiers from the former Sierra Leone army who claim loyalty to the military junta which ruled the country in 1997-8.

They have become known for their brutality and ill-discipline, much of it fuelled by drugs, and in recent weeks have broken away from the Sierra Leone army.

It is not clear what the rebels want in return for the release of the British troops. Some reports suggest they are calling for one of their leaders, known as Maj. Gen. Bomb Blast, to be freed from prison.

The members of the Royal Irish Regiment who were abducted on Friday are among some 400 British troops in the West African state to train the new Sierra Leone army.

Negotiators meet Sierra Leone hostage
August 29. 2000
Key events in Sierra Leone's history
August 29. 2000
Hopes still high for release of British soldiers in Sierra Leone
August 28. 2000

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