Nigeria's military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, called on the ruling military junta in Freetown to resume negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the immediate restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone.
The 16-nation community has vowed to reinstate the government of elected President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, toppled by junior army officers in May 25.
Following the collapse of talks in July between the community and the junta, led by Maj. Johnny Koromah, the subregion has imposed an economic embargo on the regime in an effort to force it out of power. The embargo is being enforced by the ECOWAS peace monitoring group, ECOMOG, which was first deployed in neighbouring Liberia in 1990.
Abacha, in a speech to mark Nigeria's 37th independence anniversay, said further talks with the junta would be based on the objectives of reinstating Kabbah, the return of peace to Sierra Leone and resolution of the issue of refugees and displaced persons.
Abacha, who is the current chairman of ECOWAS, also called on the international community to support subregional in resolving the Sierra Leone crisis which, he said, posed new challenges to the ability of the subregion at conflict resolution.
On Sierra Leone, and in reference to the community's successful resolution of the seven-year Liberian civil war, he said: We already have experience which we will bring to bear in our search for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.