Sierra Leone's rebels are reported to have freed 80 more UN hostages, leaving about 270 still in captivity. A UN spokesman said the 80 hostages had arrived in the Liberian border town of Foya, where an earlier batch of about 140 Zambian and Kenyan UN peacekeepers were released on Sunday.
Earlier today, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, have welcomed today's capture of Sierra Leone's rebel leader, Foday Sankoh. Speaking in Moscow, Mr Cook said he hoped the capture would deprive the rebellion of its leadership.
British troops are reported to have flown Mr Sankoh to a safe location where he is being detained by Government forces. Mr Sankoh had been missing since rival militiamen stormed his house in the city 9 days ago. He is reported to have been paraded naked through the centre of the capital, Freetown, by Sierra Leonean soldiers before being handed over to British forces. There are reports he had gunshot wounds to his legs.
