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afrol.com, 22 August - The governments decision to release some 200 RUF prisoners was announced yesterday by Sierra Leone's President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. He was informing the visiting Presidents of Nigeria and Mali that he would take immediate steps for their release in the interest of achieving sustainable peace in Sierra Leone. President Alpha Konaré of Mali, who is also chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria met with Sierra Leonean President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and with former RUF leader Foday Sankoh yesterday to discuss the issue of leadership of the RUF. Obasanjo and Konaré had previously had talks with Issa Sesay, the newly elected leader of RUF. The Chief of the Civilian Police for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, Maaritz Dutoit, met on Monday with Sierra Leonean Vice President Joe Demby to discuss the possible release of former combatants of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) who have been under detention in recent months. The Vice President said that the Government was planning to release some 187 RUF ex-combatants who had been in custody. The Government of Sierra Leone also emphasized the need for the new RUF leadership, under Issa Sesay, to cooperate with disarmament and to return unconditionally all weapons and equipment taken from UN peacekeepers. According to information received today from the UN Mission, Sierra Leonean police and prison officials are currently screening the RUF prisoners who are to be released. Starting on Monday, UNAMSIL Radio began to broadcast regular news programs three times a day. The UN radio service also includes updates on UN operations in Sierra Leone and music programs. Source: United Nations
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