AP Online ,Sierra Leone disarmament Completed

August 18, 2001 Saturday, Disarmament in a key diamond-mining district controlled by rebels has been completed, bringing the number of fighters who have surrendered their weapons in Sierra Leone to more than 16,000, U.N. officials said Saturday.

The process got offto a slow start in the eastern district ofKono in July, but thenpickedup until the last of 3,623 rebels and 2,011 pro-government militia fighters tumed in their weapons Friday, U.N. military spokesman Maj. Mohammed Yerima said.

National disarmament started in mid-May - raising hopes of an end to more than l O years of savage conflict in the West African country. The process is expected to continue into November.

Sierra Leone's rebels have raped, maimed and killed tens of thousands of civilians in a terror campaign aimed at seizing control of the govemment and lucrative diamond fïelds.

They signed - and abandoned - three peace accords before agreeing to the lalest cease-fire in November.

Peace efforts moved forward mis year after rebels came under heavy pressure from British troops, the military of neighboring Guinea and the U.N. peacekeeping force.