Sierra Leone's new leader, who took over in a bloodless coup on Tuesday, is committed to holding multi-party elections on Feb. 26, as planned, a Government spokesman said today. Addressing the nation a day after overthrowing Capt. Valentine Strasser, Brig. Julius Maada Bio called on rebels of the Revolutionary Unite Front, who have been fighting since 1991, to come to peace talks with his Government. "The democratization process, which started in June 1995 with the lifting of the ban on party political activities, continues unabated and is still on track toward the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections on Feb. 26 this year," Brigadier Bio said.
In neighboring Guinea, Captain Strasser said that he had agreed to hand over power and that his departure should not be called a coup. Freetown residents said the city was back to normal. Airports and land borders were open.
Source: New York Times
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