But this time, the United States and other Western nations also have taken sides. Sierra Leone's own army has sided with the rebels. So has Liberia, and Burkina Faso and other francophone West African states have been accused of covertly supporting the rebels. Officially, all West African states back civilian President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah's government, which came to power in democratic elections, although the rebels were excluded. Earlier this month, the rebels overran most of the capital Freetown, killing hundreds of civilians and burning much of the city to the ground.
Bodies still litter the streets and tens of thousands face starvation.
Britain has sent the warship 'HMS Norfolk' with medical supplies together with a contingent of British soldiers. Britain denies rebel claims that the ship has bombed rebel positions. This is not the first time Britain has sent troops to Sierra Leone. A hundred years ago, it ruthlessly put down a rebellion against a tax on every hut in the country. Those who had the job of trying to impose the tax were the ''Krio'', the former slaves who founded and ran the British colonial city-state of Freetown.