Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 12, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free May 2000 world b3 fierce defence of capital stops Sierra Leone rebels fears mount for Fate of 500 in troops held hostage demonstrators chants audible in court appeals judges mull Elias Asylum bid Sierra Leone Sierra Leone government troops and nigerian in forces drove rebel fighters away from the Cap ital Freetown yesterday in some of the fiercest fighting in the West african country since the civil War erupted anew last fears mounted about the Fate of 500 in soldiers held hostage by the rebels and nine men of the kenyan contingent Lay wounded in a Hospital after a Friend a fire incident in which Sierra Leone government soldiers mistook them for rebels in captured in in an hour Long helicopter gun ships pounded rebel while nigerian ground troops serving with the unused antiaircraft grenade launchers and automatic weapons to Cap Ture territory beyond about 30 Kilometres Southeast of the fighting was some of the heaviest in the former British Colony since the revolutionary United front rebels went Back on the defying a july 1999 peace agreement reached after eight years of civil the Ruf Advance sent tens of thou Sands of civilians fleeing into Freetown but the rebels were stopped at Waterloo one rebel Soldier was Cap tured and tied the nigerians appeared to suffer no local anti Ruf the Strong in peacekeeping Force and 700 British paratroopers All under Sepa rate command were bolstering the defences of the beleaguered but the capture of nearly 500 kenyan and Indian peacekeepers by rebels last week with 13 armoured weapons and uniforms provided an added complication for the hard pressed in wounded after breakout Sierra leones information ministry said the nine kenyans were wounded wednesday Inland on the Road to the Northern town after breaking out from encircling rebel forces in Mak on the the Sla Sierra Leone army opened fire on them thinking that they were rebels in unit three of the kenyans were in a critical medical staff there is growing evidence Ruf fight ers Are using in uniforms to fool pro government i saw they Wear United nations Caps and their military uniforms carried the inscription of United said Schoolboy Abu describing a wednesday rebel attack at the Battle at Waterloo underlined strained relations Between the Nigeria who have borne the Brunt of the defence of and other in con about 25 Kilometres behind the front in troops from India and Kenya sat in White painted vehicles along the taking no part in the in a debate raged about the role of British paratroopers who went to Sierra Leone on an evacuation mis Sion but have dug in and Are providing logistical Aid to the in in frightened civilians scrambled to Board ferries crossing the Estuary to where the British Para troopers have secured the International the refugees Are terrified of the rebels and other who hacked hands and limbs off civilians at the height of the civil the whereabouts of Ruf Leader foday last seen in Freetown on Mon Day after a pitched Battle at his Resi remained Canadian press new russian president begins term forcefully president Vladimir just four Days into his flexed his Muscles yesterday by warning regional leaders he will not tolerate local deviations from National while he was pulling rank on Gover nors from across the vast russian fed just blocks away masked tax police raided a news Media group often critical of Kremlin Putin pressed on with forming his cab inet and appeared to have easily won legislative support for his Choice As prime economic specialist Mikhail tax police raided the office of Media which has and print Media there was no word from Putin or the Kremlin on the search at Media most but its television Channel nov saw a the invasion and theres no other word for the Media most offices took place four just four after the inauguration of the new presi Vladimir said a new read a spokesman for russian feb domes tic intelligence service said the searches were made in connection with a Crim Inal Putin issued decrees suspending Laws passed by authorities in a mainly Muslim Region in Central and amur Region on the chinese throughout his presidential Putin promised to Institute a dictator ship of he said part of that process was reining in regional leaders who approved Laws contradicting those passed by Central authorities in Reuters Atlanta three Federal appeals judges listened so optically to both sides in the Elian Gonzalez Case yes questioning whether a six year old boy can comprehend an Asylum application and whether its in his Best interest to be raised in a communist with the chants of sidewalk demonstrators audible in the packed court the judges persistent questioning of lawyers for the gov Elias Miami relatives and his father pushed the hearing to an hour and 20 double its scheduled the panel of the Lith circuit court of one step below the supreme said it would take weeks to decide whether Elian is mature enough to seek Asylum despite the fathers desire to take him Back to circuit judge Charles the panels Only Clinton peppered the Miami relatives lawyers about the boys ability to understand Complex questions on an Asylum application they filed for in sure Elian Gonzalez is a very Bright and intelligent but he didst even have the ability to sign his last name on the Asylum Wilson two problems before the governments lawyer could begin stating his circuit judge Edmondson fired off the two problems he had with the Deci Sion to deny Elian an Asylum a Crew Cut Reagan noted that the boys great Lazaro had custody of the child when the Asylum application was while his father was still in Edmondson seemed particularly worried about Elias Fate in twice calling it a totalitarian Edmondson added that it is not uncommon for courts to Rule that the Best interests of a child override parental likened Elian to children whose parents reject med ical care for religious circuit judge Joel the third member of the panel and another Reagan asked the lawyer for Elias father Juan Miguel Why he took five months to come to the United states to claim his appealing decision Elian has been in the United states since late when Fisher men found him clinging to an inner tube off the coast of his Mother died trying to flee their coun try in a boat that his Miami relatives held on to him1 until he was seized in a raid by immigration and naturalization ser vice officials and reunited with his father in Washington last the relatives Are appealing a Federal judges decision that upheld the governments order that Elias father be allowed to take the boy Back to Kendall a lawyer for Elias Miami told the judges that an Asylum hearing should be almost automatic for anyone who Edwin the attorney for the said there is no Evi Dence Elian would be harmed in and he argued that parents rights should be observed regardless of nationality or political ask ing the judges How they would feel if Iran or Iraq refused to return an american child to his or her Elias Lazaro Gonza Lez and Cousin Mari Eleysis sat silently through the hearing and left the courthouse without speaking to reporters or a group about 100 supporters gathered waving cuban associated press Manitoban multiple sclerosis special thanks to our Winnipeg sponsors Media come f Magazine i free press e life Saan Wei win birr Portage place Dat Ruland a Riff relax real estate Christie biscuits Rajus group shapes fitness centres Mead Johnson Gardewine North Powell equipment Nabisco Mccain foods Garden Grove downtown Biz Wardrop technologies partners Delicatessen David Lewis associates Giselle a Manitoba Blue Cross the fort Garry hotel sos technical devices building maintenance service Thompson Dorfman Sweatman Elkhorn resort conference Centre celebrations dinner theatre photo Central Vansco electronics peace Hills insurance Bachman associates quantum graphics Chicken Delight Boston pizza by imaging Prairie architects Pollard banknote mechanical Ryder trucks gourmet Coffee specialists event Maduff pow Ible by a gun Trout donation from i Manitoba division Call for proposals Urban multipurpose aboriginal youth centres initiative in Winnipeg the department of Canadian heritages Urban multipurpose aboriginal youth centres initiative Umay Aims to improve social and personal prospects for aboriginal 1524 years of age living in Urban for the department of Canadian heritage is soliciting project proposals from nonprofit aboriginal organizations focussing on capacity building for Winnipeg Urban aboriginal to discuss potential proposals or for More information on the guiding and eligible projects for please Call Mike aboriginal programs officer at the department of Canadian the deadline for applications has been applications must now be submitted by May 2000 to department of Canadian heritage Box 2nd 275 Portage Avenue r3c 3r5 applications by fax or email will not be the Urban multipurpose aboriginal youth centres initiative a vital part of the government of Canadas Urban aboriginal strategy for the City of Canadian heritage Pat Elmoine Canadien Canada part of our a world apart autism society 204 7839563 correction notice the Tundra accessory packages appearing in the May nth and 12th flyer insert should read As follows package package installed or installed or for 48 months for 48 months the address for Sunshine Toyota should read 1700cwaverly Street Winnipeg 2691572 visit your other neighbourhood Toyota dealer today Frontier Toyota 1486 Regent Avenue Winnipeg 9446600 Mcphillips Toyota 2425 Mcphillips Street Winnipeg 3387985 Woodhaven lexus Toyota 3700 Portage Avenue Winnipeg 8893700 Toyota 1888toyota8 ;