UN lawyers cast doubt over Sierra Leone arms embargo

THE FOREIGN Office is examining a ruling by United Nations lawyers which suggests that it may not have been illegal to sell arms to the Nigerian- led peace-keeping force in Sierra Leone. The UN lawyers' view further confuses the question of whether the UN embargo on arms sales to Sierra Leone was breached by the British firm Sandline International.

Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, has told the Commons that Foreign and Commonwealth officials advised Sandline that the embargo included everyone connected with Sierra Leone. Sandline has maintained it did not break the embargo by supplying arms to Ecomog, the West African force which restored Sierra Leone's elected government under President Kabbah.