Army say 'We must take the battle to rebels' offensive in Sierra Leone'

The government was last night accused of misleading Parliament over the involvement of British troops in Sierra Leone. The commander of the UK force added to the controversy when he pressed for an up-country offensive against the rebels to help boost the United Nations peace-keeping operation.

Brigadier David Richards's remarks on Sierra Leone radio came as British troops provided "logistical and co-ordination support" for pro-Government forces in an offensive against rebels.

Reports from the west African state described how President Kabbah's troops had driven the RUF rebels away from Freetown with rocket attacks from helicopter gunships. The morale of Government forces is said to have been "significantly bolstered" by the arrival of British troops.

The rebels have seized hundreds of UN peace-keepers and have threatened to skin some alive, according to the British officers who made a daring jungle escape from them.

Concern over the worsening situation in the country and the increased role being played by British forces heightened concern among MPs about being sucked into an armed conflict. Yesterday, opposition MPs demanded the Government make a statement to the House of Commons spelling out exactly what is expected of the British troops. Ministers were accused of giving "an impression of evasiveness" and MPs complained of "confusion... and lack of clarity" between government departments over Britain's role in the conflict.

Statements in London and the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, appeared to add to the confusion. The official line remains that the British forces were there to evacuate British, Commonwealth, and European Union citizens. Virtually all who wanted to go have done so and yesterday Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence,indicated orders may change in response to a "fast moving situation".

Brigadier Richards added to the controversy over the British troops' role by maintaining the mandate of the evacuation force was open to liberal interpretation.

He said:"We have weathered the storm and our job now - in the the short term using the Sierra Leone Army - is to take the battle forward and do whatever is necessary, increasingly into the interior."

At a House of Lord's debate on the Defence White Paper, the Defence minister, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean said it was "highly unlikely" that British troops would come under UN command. However, she refused to give any "guarantees" on operational matters because of the "potentially dangerous and fluid situation".

William Hague said: "We need a statement from the Government that explains what their role is out there."

The Tory Defence spokesman Iain Duncan Smith demanded an immediate statement from ministers to reassure "worried" families of the troops. He said: "The Government owes it to the House to come and clarify their position - what is the mission statement, what are our troops actually there to do - and to do it as quickly as possible."

Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat's Defence spokesman added: "The Government gives the impression of evasiveness on this matter and this is hardly likely to reassure public opinion."

The situation in Sierra Leone remains volatile and uncertain. Although a rebel column was still advancing on the capital, they numbered hundreds rather than thousands, say defence sources.

The armed strength of the rebel force is said to number around 15,000, according to senior sources. One said: " The situation is very uncertain. We don't know where people are, what they are doing and what their intention is."