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Hostage crisis: Vajpayee seeks Liberian president's aid

With no indications that the 21 Indian soldiers held hostage in Sierra Leone will be released in the near future, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee rushed a special envoy to Liberia seeking the help of President Charles Taylor to free them from Revolutionary United Front rebels.

A K Banerjee, Indian High Commissioner in Ghana, went to Liberia to deliver the prime minister's message to President Taylor. Vajpayee expressed serious concern about the continued detention of 21 soldiers in Pendembu and blockade of 213 others in Kailahun.

Vice-President Krishan Kant, currently in Cairo to attend the G-15 summit, also met Nigerian President O Obasanjo to discuss the hostage crisis. The latter told Kant that he was making every effort to end crisis.

United States President Bill Clinton has also spoken to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on this issue.

UNI

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