Sierra Leonean rebels boycotted a monthly peace meeting with the government and UN officials Thursday, a day after Freetown announced that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held in the war-scarred nation on May 14.
RUF spokesman Gibril Massaquoi told AFP over phone that the boycott was aimed at highlighting several grievances against the government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
He said these included a refusal by Kabbah's team to step down for an interim government after its term ends on September 26, alleged ceasfire violations by a state-backed civil militia and the government's refusal to free detained RUF leader Foday Sankoh.
Thursday's meeting between the RUF, the Freetown government and UNAMSIL (the UN mission in Sierra Leone) was to have been held in the northern town of Makeni, a former rebel bastion.
Four such monthly meetings have already been held to discuss an ongoing peace and disarmament process.
Massaquoi said the boycott was an act of desperation.
"It is time for us to say enough is enough," he said.
"We want certain issues to be addressed by the international community. We want a comprehensive consultative meeting on who will rule the country between September and the elections.
"The government has given itself nine additional months. We are against that. The fate of this country cannot be held to ransom by one man (President Kabbah)." -- ABIDJAN (AFP)
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