British troops withdraw from Sierra Leone

British troops were withdrawing from Sierra Leone today, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

About 200 troops have been wrapping up their operations over the past couple of weeks following the staging of peaceful elections in the previously war-torn country.

Peace was declared in Sierra Leone in January this year, and the west African country has now held elections and formed a new government.

The British Government has now decided the servicemen can leave with their support ship, the Sir Geraint, whose presence in Freetown Harbour became a symbol of the British forces' work to bring stability to Sierra Leone.

Britain sent troops to the country two years ago as part of a massive United Nations peacekeeping mission which is credited with bringing an end to Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war.

An MoD spokesman said 100 officers will remain in Sierra Leone to train the country's army.

He said: "It's been an on-going process for quite a while.

"They the officers will be carrying on in a new role representing the improved situation over there."

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