Troops loyal to coup attacked in Sierra Leone
June 19, 1997
Web posted at: 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT)
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (CNN) -- Soldiers loyal to Sierra Leone's military ruler fought off an attack on Thursday in the eastern region capital of Kenema, the governor of the region said.
Capt. Eddie Kanneh said by telephone from Kenema that truckloads of Kamajors -- a militia loyal to toppled civilian president Ahmed Tejan Kabbah -- attacked the town on several fronts.
"There are so many bodies of Kamajors lying around killed in the battle (on Thursday) between government soldiers and Kamajors for control of Kenema," he said, adding that soldiers had suffered gunshot wounds and other injuries.
The attack was the latest in a series of clashes between the Kamajors and the army in the region.
Junior army officers led by Maj. Johnny Paul Koroma seized power on May 25, ousting Kabbah, who took office in March 1996 after multi-party elections that ended four years of army rule.
Kabbah had used the Kamajors as a civil militia to help the army push back rebels who took up arms in 1991.
The coup leaders accuse Kabbah of dividing the country along tribal lines and blocking peace with the rebels, who rallied to the military coup and have flooded into the capital Freetown.
Koroma, who was sworn in as head of state on Tuesday, pledged to restore peace and eventually democracy.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Sierra Leone junta hopes to head off invasion - June 11, 1997
- Sierra Leone parliament defies ban, denounces coup - June 8, 1997
- African leaders pledge to oppose coups, support democracy - June 4, 1997
- Sierra Leone fighting eases, allowing more evacuations - June 3, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
Sound off on our message boards
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.