No injuries were sustained. There is a wide range of opinion within the community over the causes of these incidents. Suffice it to state that Government is making efforts to deal with these cease-fire violations. Sharka Mansaray, President Kabbahs special advisor on peace, stated in a press interview that Contingency plans exist to deal with future cease-fire breaches and also to neutralize any threats to innocent travellers. Political Developments 4.
Efforts continue to be made to a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Sierra Leone.
Government was retired by the newly-created Defence Council. In an interview with Focus on Africa, President Tejan Kabbah discussed the circumstances surrounding the attempted coup which was alleged to have been planned for 9 September. The President attributed the attempt to renegade soldiers, two of whom had been arrested and were under interrogation. The President shrugged off the incident by harking back to the three coup attempts faced by the late Siaka Stevens when he first came to power. He also emphasized that No amount of intimidation would change his view about democratic principles.