SPACE WIRE
Sierra Leone to cut army size
FREETOWN (AFP) Apr 15, 2003
Sierra Leone's armed forces will be downsized from over 14,000 soldiers to a little above 10,000 over a four-year period, Military Information Director Adolphus Samuels said here Tuesday.

The restructuring programme will involve reducing 1,000 military personnel annually through to the year 2007 including a financial settlement and professional retraining package for those leaving, he said.

Samuels said there would also be recruitment with the emphasis on skilled personnel such as engineers.

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