(7 Jun 1997) English/Nat
Sierra Leone's coup leaders on Saturday warned Nigeria, west Africa's regional power broker, it would have to retake the country by force.
But a spokesman for the rebels also said they were prepared to enter negotiations to avert a violent and bloody showdown.
Although there is tough talking from the rebel leaders, the country's defence minister admitted his forces may not be able to repel sustained Nigerian firepower.
Rebel soldiers in the Sierra Leone, capital Freetown, loitered outside the Cockrell Military Defence H-Q, while reports of other soldiers out of control looting the city continued to filter through.
Coup leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma, vowed on Saturday to crack down on marauding soldiers by ordering those without authority to get off the streets.
Despite forming a government and claiming he is in control, Koroma, has yet to bring anything close to stability to the city, which is full of rebel soldiers armed to the teeth.
His brother, Brigadier Samuel Koroma, and head of the country's defence, came out of the defence headquarters after a number of his troops spotted a Nigerian warship offshore.
The ship, believed to be the Ambe, attacked positions around the Mammy Yoko Hotel on Monday and Tuesday, during some of the worst fighting of the insurrection.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well now we are sure it's the N-S-S Ambe boat. I don't know what it, it's mission is actually."
SUPER CAPTION: Brigadier Samuel Koroma, Chief of Defence staff
Brigadier Koroma admitted his forces were not strong enough to repel sustained the Nigerian firepower designed to reverse the coup, and he repeated calls for negotiations to avert new clashes.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It's not strong enough, but I think the people are ready to die if they resort to that type of action, but it is not strong enough, you can't shell in Nigeria, definitely."
SUPER CAPTION: Brigadier Samuel Koroma, Chief of Defence staff
But many other soldiers appeared determined to put up a fight against the Nigerians.
UPSOUND: (English)
"This is the killer for the Nigerian. This is the killer."
SUPER CAPTION: Soldier
Koroma says he's ready to negotiate, but has been frozen out of the process by the international community.
And this was repeated by the head of defence.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Let them try, we are here waiting for them to come for negotiations. Let them see if we are not interested in negotiations, but it would seem they have just decided not to talk to us or to do anything about it, but we are appealing to them to come and start to negotiate."
SUPER CAPTION: Brigadier Samuel Koroma, Chief of Defence staff
While appealing for international talks, however, the rebels show little sign of meeting Nigeria's demand for the return to power of Kabbah, who was elected in February 1996.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
