UN Peacekeeping Forces Began to be Deployed in Sierra Leone

The United Nations peacekeeping forces in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Wednesday for the first time began peacefully the military deployment in rebel-held territory, according to reports reaching here from the country's capital Freetown.

A senior UNAMSIL commander said the troops were deployed to the rebel-held town of Lunsar, 80 kilometers east of Freetown, in a move which should be a major step forward for the peace process in the war-torn west African country.

Meanwhile, a senior commander of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) announced that the RUF welcomed the U.N. deployment, saying that the deployment of the U.N. peacekeeping forces to Lunsar will soon be followed by a consolidation of the ceasefire throughout the country.

UNAMSIL, the world's largest peacekeeping force currently made up of around 10,000 soldiers, has been requested by the Economic Community of West African States to strengthen its deployment aimed at resuming lasting peace in Sierra Leone.

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