M A I N   N E W S

Indian peacekeepers rescued

FREETOWN, July 15 (AP, Reuter) — A UN military operation today rescued all 220 Indian peacekeepers and 11 military observers who had been trapped by rebels inside a un base in eastern Sierra Leone, a un spokeswoman said.

Mr Hirut Befecadu said the 220 detained Indian troops who had been unable to leave the rebel held town of Kailahun since May, were liberated by a un military team and were on their way to road to the nearby town of Daru.

The 11 military observers, from various countries, were flown by helicopters to Freetown, Ms Befecadu said.

No other details were immediately available.

A un statement delivered to journalists earlier this morning said the un rescue team consisted of troops from India, Ghana and Nigeria. UN Force Commander Maj Gen Vijay Jaitley oversaw the mission from a nearby un base in the town of Daru, according to a statement.

The detained peacekeepers still had their weapons but over the past two weeks, the rebels refused to allow the un force in Sierra Leone, known as Unamsil, to send them food supplies by road or air.

The recent torrential rains had also limited the detained peacekeepers’ ability to move, the statement added.

Earlier, the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said the un authorities had informed India about Unamsil launching military operations to evacuate the peacekeepers.

The first lift of un helicopters extricated 40 un peacekeepers including 11 military observers.

“The un troops have also started advancing along the Daru-Kailahun from both sides,’’ it said adding Maj Gen Jaitley is personally controlling the operations from Daru.

“The operations are progressing smoothly. No firing or casualties have been reported so far,’’ the release said.

The RUF had restricted the movement of 232 Unamsil personnel including 222 Indian troops and 11 observers at Kailahun.

Both the un and India have engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to persuade the RUF to lift the siege on the Indian peacekeepers and military observers.

The United Nations endorsed India’s assessment that diplomatic options having been exhausted, use of force to secure freedom of movement of the detainees had become unavoidable. The current mandate of Unamsil permits the use of force.

The safety and security of Indian troops involved in this un operations remains of paramount concern to the government, the ministry said.