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Sierra Leone's Army Makes Steady Progress Against Rebels

Aired May 21, 2000 - 7:08 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Overseas in Sierra Leone, rebels released an additional 54 U.N. peacekeepers Sunday, after holding almost 500 of them hostage for nearly three weeks. The United Nations says it expects a lot more hostages to be released -- excuse me -- on Monday. Meanwhile, government forces have taken control of a key town.

CNN's Ben Wedeman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Government forces in a firefight with rebels at the crossroads town of Rogburi Junction. In the confusion of battle, discipline is not subtle. Reluctant soldiers need to be urged into combat.

(on camera): This town was taken this morning, but clearly the government's hold on this area isn't very tight.

(voice-over): For the past two weeks, the Sierra Leonean army has battled its way steadily up the road from Freetown into the interior. But the rebels aren't giving ground without a fight, launching counter attacks just when the government forces think they've taken control.

Shortly before this firefight broke out, all was calm and quiet, the troops basking in what they thought was an easy victory, cheap liquor easing the tension, marijuana soothing their nerves. The post- battle banter is confident.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

CABELL: Some of these soldiers have known little else but war. Mushu (ph) is a seasoned veteran of the Sierra Leonean army, the SLA.

(on camera): Mushu, how long have you been with the SLA?

MUSHU: From 1991.

CABELL: And how old are you?

MUSHU: Twenty-two years. CABELL: You were 11 years old when you joined the SLA?

MUSHU: Yes, sir.

CABELL (voice-over): Many have had enough, and would like to see it all come to an end.

MAJ. EDWARD KAMIR, SIERRA LEONE ARMY: We want total peace for the people, for us, so everybody lives as a happy man.

CABELL: The rebels didn't pull out of here without leaving their mark: another corner of this country laid to waste by war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told you before, I don't know nothing. They're just (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

CABELL: Up the road, Jordanian peacekeepers on guard. A sierra Leonan army officer warns them of trouble up ahead. But not to worry, the soldiers say, the situation is under control.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Rogburi Junction, Sierra Leone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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