Soldiers Overthrow President Of Sierra Leone Troops Lead By Major Take Over Legislature, Burn Nation’s Treasury

Rebellious soldiers toppled Sierra Leone’s elected president in a bloody coup Sunday, and an army major said he was seizing power because the government failed to keep the peace following a five-year civil war.

Soldiers led by Maj. Johnny Paul Koroma took control of the legislature in this small west African country after heavy fighting and burned the national treasury, prompting President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to flee.

In the first nationwide statement since the fighting began Sunday, Koroma said in a radio broadcast that he had assumed control of Sierra Leone and was inviting an important rebel leader to join his government.

The coup comes six months after the civilian government signed a peace accord with rebels to end the civil war.

In recent weeks, however, at least some rebel factions had resumed fighting, leading to criticism that the government’s neglect had helped revive the violence.

“As custodians of state security and defenders of the constitution (we) have today decided to overthrow the Sierra Leone Peoples Party government,” Koroma said, “because of their failure to consolidate the claims achieved by the brokers of peace.”

The coup began at dawn when mutinous troops in pickup trucks broke open the gates of Freetown’s maximum security prison, freeing hundreds of prisoners including some charged in alleged coup plots against Kabbah.

The rebel troops then took over the national assembly after clashing with Nigerian troops who were stationed in the capital Freetown to help defend the civilian government against rebels, witnesses said.

Gun and mortar fire was heard throughout the capital. The rebels claimed control over the legislature and said they had burned down the national Treasury by nightfall.

President Kabbah fled to neighboring Conakry, Guinea, the Guinean newspaper L’Independante said.

Stray fire, including rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, hit the U.S. Embassy, 200 yards from the assembly building, according to a Marine guard reached by telephone.

The building suffered some damage but there were no casualties, said the guard speaking on condition of anonymity.

The State Department said two Americans were injured when their home was looted.