Nigerian Troops Bombard Coup Leaders in Sierra Leone
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FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Fighting eased in Sierra Leone’s capital at nightfall Monday after a day of shelling from Nigerian gunboats and fighting between Nigerian troops and rebels allied to leaders of an 8-day-old coup.
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was ousted by the military May 25 in what was the West African nation’s third coup in five years.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 4, 1997 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 4, 1997 Home Edition Part A Page 3 Metro Desk 2 inches; 52 words Type of Material: Correction
Sierra Leone--A caption in Tuesday’s Times accompanying a photograph of the American evacuation of foreigners from Sierra Leone was incorrect. Relying on a caption supplied by Associated Press, it gave an incorrect rank for the American pictured, Jevon A. Skerman. Associated Press later transmitted a correction identifying Skerman only as a “U.S. serviceman.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross brokered a cease-fire to allow the evacuation of more than 600 civilians trapped by fighting around a hotel.
Nigerian ships west of Freetown began bombarding the headquarters of coup leaders after talks between Nigerian and British diplomats and the coup leaders collapsed Sunday night.
At least seven people died in the attack and fighting onshore.
Mutinous troops responded by taking aim at the beachfront Mammy Yoko Hotel, where hundreds of Nigerian troops sent in to back the ousted government have set up a command post.
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