§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has undertaken with representatives of the rival groups in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [31676]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 February 1998,Official Report, column 34.
It is our view that the legitimate government of President Kabbah should be restored to power in Sierra Leone. We have called for the restoration of the democratically elected President, the establishment of a broadly based government and for all parties to move to a process of disarmament and demobilisation.
I discussed the situation in Sierra Leone with President Kabbah on 20 February 1998. Our Deputy High Commissioner returned on a reconnaissance visit to Freetown on 23 February 1998 and is in contact with various groups in the city. It remains our belief that there is a need for rapid United Nations engagement, which we are discussing with members of the UN Security Council and the Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action group will discuss the situation in Sierra Leone at its meeting on 2–3 March.