Sierra Leone government militiamen clashed with rebels today, in what appeared to be the most serious confirmed breach of a ceasefire agreed last November, military sources said.
A United Nations peacekeeping official confirmed that rebels and pro-government Kamajor militiamen had fought late yesterday and into this morning near the eastern diamond centre of Tongo Field. He said it was not clear who had attacked first.
Military sources said hundreds of civilians had fled the fighting and reached the town of Kenema.
The November ceasefire, which has largely held although despite rebel accusations of government attacks on its position, is designed to end a civil war which has torn the West African country for 10 years. Rebels said earlier that government forces had increased attacks on their positions.
