President returns from Sierra Leone

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home from Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he was the guest of honour at a ceremony marking the completion of disarmament and the end of war in that country.

Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jake Obetsebi-Lampty, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Seth Obeng, accompanied him.

Briefing journalists on arrival, Owusu-Agyemang said the ceremony also marked the symbolic burning of small arms and weapons as a signal to the entire world that peace had returned to Sierra Leone.

He said leaders of the combatants, including Issa Sesay, interim leader of the Revolutionary United Front (FUR) pledged their commitment to peace. The Foreign Minister said President Kufuor made a passionate appeal for them to sustain the peace and urged the international communities to honour all promises made to Sierra Leone.

He said about 46,700 combatants were disarmed and would be integrated into the regular army and civil society. Elections are due in May. At the airport to welcome the President were the Vice President and some Ministers of state.