Negotiators in Sierra Leone, who are trying to secure the release of around 40 mainly foreign hostages, say that they are hopeful of making progress over the weekend. The rebels, supporters of the former military junta leader have said all along that they do not plan to harm the hostages, whom they seized on Wednesday.
The hostages are mainly UN military observers and Nigerian peacekeepers, who were kidnapped after travelling to the interior for the handover of children abducted in Sierra Leone's civil war. Sierra Leone's rebels, who came close to taking Freetown in January, said that they feel left out by a peace deal singed last month and want the former military ruler to be released from custody.
