Sierra Leone rebels hand over more than 100 children to UN mission

The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) today released over 100 children - some of whom had been abducted more than two years ago - to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

In a brief ceremony at a local sports stadium, 107 children - 62 girls, plus 45 of their babies and dependent siblings - were handed over by Col. Agnes Manning, the RUF's commander of women and children, to UNAMSIL's Child Protection Adviser, Bituin Gonzalez.

The move was in keeping with agreements reached in May between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF. Since the first major release of children on 25 May, UNAMSIL has been focusing on obtaining the release of girls and was gratified that the first such release had taken place, Ms. Gonzalez said.

Today's release brings to 1,170 the total number of children handed over by the RUF to the UN mission since 25 May.

In other news, UNAMSIL's UN Peacekeeping Force Commander visited the Bangladeshi Battalion stationed at Lungi Airport.

Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande was briefed by the battalion commander, Col. Farooq Ahmed, on the deployment and responsibilities of his troops, which include airport security, land and marine patrols and also humanitarian assistance.

In his address to the Bangladeshi soldiers, Lt. Gen. Opande talked about the importance of providing security to the country's only international airport. He exhorted them to the vigilant as they handled travellers to and from Sierra Leone and urged them to be a showpiece from UNAMSIL, as they were working at the gateway to the nation.