Wednesday, 17 May, 2000, 07:55 GMT 08:55 UK

Rebel chief captured

The Sierra Leonean Government has reported the capture of Foday Sankoh,
leader of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Eyewitnesses said they had seen Mr Sankoh being paraded naked in the street
by soldiers.

The rebel leader is reportedly being held at the main military base in the
capital, Freetown.

The RUF has in recent weeks violated a peace accord by refusing to lay down
its guns, and by capturing hundreds of members of a United Nations
peacekeeping force.

Army chief Johnny-Paul Koroma told the BBC that his men had captured Mr
Sankoh.

Our West Africa correspondent, Mark Doyle, says that scenes outside the
barracks indicate that there has been some significant development.

Mr Sankoh has been missing since Tuesday of last week, when angry civilians
ransacked his house in Freetown in protest at rebel atrocities.

There have been fears that he had been planning a fresh rebel assault while
in hiding.

"We are happy he is in our reach here in Freetown and has not linked up with
his people in the bush," Information Minister Julius Spencer said.

The rebels have released 91 hostages, who arrived back in Freetown via
Liberia early on Wednesday, but at least 300 UN soldiers are still missing.
-