§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the new Government in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [19274]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThere is no new Government in Sierra Leone. We condemned the military coup which took place there on 25 May 1997 and have consistently called for the restoration of the legitimate Government of President Kabbah. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reached agreement with the military junta on 23 October in Conakry on a framework for the restoration of that Government. We have played a leading role within the international community in promoting discussion of the implementation of that agreement. With our encouragement, the United Nations is currently considering how best it can support ECOWAS activities in this regard.