Sierra Leonean party in exile supports interim government

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

Sierra Leone People's Democratic League (PDL), a political party in exile, has declared its total support for the formation of an interim government of "inclusion" in Sierra Leone and the talks in Lome Togo, aimed at ending the blood bath.

"It is the only path to bring lasting peace and security in Sierra Leone", the League said, adding that "only negotiations through the on-going Lome talks can bring the untold sufferings of our neglected people to immediate end".

The League expressed its support in a statement issued in Accra on Sunday signed by Mr Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh, chairman and leader of the party.

It called for the reinstatement of the Sierra Leonean army as the only constitutional body responsible for defending the country's national sovereignty and the holding of "free, fair, honest, transparent and participatory elections".

The League condemned the on-going campaign in the capital, Freetown against the formation of the interim government, describing the action as "criminal, selfish and a declaration of war against peace and stability".

The statement said any parliamentarian, who would sit in "any impeachment discussions" against President Tejan Kabbah for accepting an interim government "will be considered an enemy of Sierra Leonean society and will be treated as such".