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| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 14, 2001 |
All-Party Talks in Sierra Leone Focus on Peace Process |
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The Sierra Leonean government, political parties and civic organizations Tuesday began an all-party conference aimed at moving the peace process in the war-torn country forward, according to a report available in Lagos from Freetown.
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The Sierra Leonean government, political parties and civic organizations Tuesday began an all-party conference aimed at moving the peace process in the war-torn country forward, according to a report available in Lagos from Freetown.
Information Minister Cecil Blake was quoted as saying that all opposition parties were represented at the three-day talks and the atmosphere was positive.
The top agenda of the talks include building a sustainable peace in Sierra Leone, and how best to organize next year's elections, he added.
President Tejan Kabah has said the legislative and presidential elections will be held on May 14, 2002. So far, 21 political parties have registered, five of which are still waiting final registration certificates, including the political wing of Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, to contest the next year's elections.
With the continued deployment of United Nations peacekeepers in the former rebel-held areas and implementation of the May ceasefire, the situation in the country is getting stable and the peace process is going on wheels.
The civil war between the RUF and the successive governments in the west African country since 1991 has witnessed tens of thousands of civilians mutilated, raped or displaced.
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