Sierra Leone's coup leader names council

Negotiators said yesterday they had struck a deal with coup-makers to bring back Sierra Leone's ousted civilian president, but the new military leader went ahead with naming his ruling council.

Diplomats hosting talks with the army played down the radio announcement, saying they still expected a deal to be signed. Major Johnny Paul Koromah announced a 20-member council, with the rebel leader Foday Sankoh as vice chairman, and including three more members of Mr Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Reuters - Freetown