Freetown - Rebels in Sierra Leone released all remaining civilian and military hostages yesterday, a British Foreign Office spokesman said. UN officials told Britain's High Commission in Freetown that about 200 civilians, 20 Nigerian peacekeepers and a UN military observer had been freed, the spokesman said.
The release ended a weeklong crisis triggered by last week's capture of about 40 foreigners who had set out to secure the release of the Sierra Leone civilians. About half of the group, including two British soldiers, were freed earlier. The rebels released three other British soldiers, part of a UN military observer force, on Monday.