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S. Leone police arrest 26 after oil depot shootout
11 Feb 2008 15:54:05 GMT
 Source: Reuters
FREETOWN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Police in Sierra Leone have arrested 26 suspected armed robbers after a gunfight lasting several hours at an oil refinery in the capital Freetown late on Sunday, a senior officer in the West African country said.

Police had to call in paramilitary reinforcements after the gang opened fire when officers tried to prevent its members filling two tanker trucks with stolen fuel at the oil depot, on the east side of the city.

"The police were (initially) unable to make any arrests because the robbers were firing," the senior police officer, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Monday.

"An SOS was sent to the paramilitary boss who sent heavily armed men to reinforce ... The reinforcement team on their way to the oil refinery came in contact with one of the loaded tankers trying to escape and shot one of its tyres."

Sierra Leone, a former British colony, was torn apart by a 1991-2002 civil war which left its infrastructure in ruins.

Many in Freetown live without piped water or mains electricity and even the wealthy rely on diesel generators to power homes and businesses.

Some former combatants, including ex-child soldiers forced to fight with rebel forces or government militias, eke out a living selling diesel in old liquor bottles on street corners.

The head of security at the refinery was among those arrested, police said. (Reporting by Christo Johnson; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Giles Elgood)


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Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki (R) meets with former Sierra Leone President and Chairman of the Commonwealth observer group, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, at the State House in Nairobi January 1, 2008. REUTERS/Presidential ...


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Last updated:Mon Feb 11 15:51:39 2008