Nigeria, Libya to find peaceful solution to Sierra Leonean crisis

Nigerian Vice President-Elect Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi agreed over the weekend that their countries, which support different sides in the Sierra Leone crisis, should work together to restore peace in that country.

According to Nigerian news agency NAN, Gaddafi said an inclusive government, involving the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was the only solution to resolving the seven-year rebellion.

Gaddafi, whose country, together with Burkina Faso and Liberia, supports the RUF, said this solution applied to all the crisis points in the continent - Angola, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

The Libyan leader pledged to use his friendship with the two sides to contribute to resolving the problem.

The source said the incoming civilian administration in Nigeria would collaborate with Libya in ensuring the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Sierra Leone where pro-government Nigerian-led ECOMOG troops have been battling the RUF rebels.

"We share a common perception of the crisis and enjoy enormous goodwill which necessitates our working together to resolve the crisis," the Nigerian official said.

Atiku who also visited Angola pledged the support of the incoming administration for ongoing efforts to revive the stalled peace process in that country. He assured that president-elect Obasanjo would be personally involved in the effort.