The peace held thanks only to the Nigerian-led ecomog troops who stayed on as the U.N. deployed some 7,500 lightly armed peacekeepers. When the Nigerians pulled out three weeks ago, financially strained by their years of intervention in Sierra Leone and making way for the expanded U.N. force, the R.U.F. pounced, killing four peacekeepers from Kenya and capturing more than 500 other U.N. troops, some 240 of whom were released last week. Further humiliation was avoided only with the arrival of about 800 British paratroopers. They quickly secured Freetown's Lungi Airport and strategic positions in the capital, and their presence eased panic that the R.U.F. would launch an attack on the city. With or without Sankoh, the R.U.F. is on the retreat.
Diplomatic sources say Britain is orchestrating an offensive against the rebels.
Frontline troops include soldiers from the Sierra Leonean army, fighters loyal to warlord Lieut. But I think British soldiers are adaptable and we should use that ability to assist where we can. In the mid-'90s, the besieged government hired South African mercenaries to drive the R.U.F. from the diamond fields, a campaign that took just weeks. Until now the government and international community has lacked such a clear goal. The broken peace deal provides one.