Rebels Fight Way Back Into Capital

Almost a year after being driven out of Sierra Leone’s shattered capital, a ragtag rebel army battled its way back into Freetown. Witnesses said the rebels seized control of the statehouse and burned the main police station. Although a Nigerian-led West African intervention force insisted that its troops had the situation under control, the advance of an insurgent force blamed for murdering and maiming countless villagers horrified Freetown residents. The last few remaining U.N. expatriate staff were evacuated before the advance of rebels, who have fought the government for years.