The News Review:

- Taylor witnesses being threatened
- Sierra Leone: On Government’s Ban On Timber Logging And Exportatio…
- Sierra Leone: Amputee Team Seeks Government’s Help for Nations…
- Sierra Leone: Female Musicians to Advocate for Women
- Sierra Leone: “Slain Fullah Businessman Highest Lender Apart…

Taylor witnesses being threatened
USA Today – Feb 28, 2008
Rapp, who has been in Africa for most of the trial, said he was pleased with the case so far. He said the Taylor prosecution was given a significant boost last week by a ruling from the court’s appeals chamber that said rebels linked to Taylor were part of an organized plot, known as a joint criminal enterprise, to seize control of Sierra Leone with a campaign of terror and loot its diamond mines. Trial judges in Sierra Leone last year ruled that prosecutors did not correctly set out the joint criminal enterprise allegations in an indictment against three rebels who were tried separately from Taylor, but appeals judges overturned that ruling on Friday. “It’s enormously significant to us in this case,” Rapp said. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges that include murder, rape, torture, enlisting child soldiers and pillaging towns and villages during Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2002. His trial is being held in a courtroom rented from the International Criminal Court in the Hague because of fears that prosecuting him in Sierra Leone could spark new violence. Rapp was visiting The Hague on his way to Britain, where he will discuss with officials efforts to track down millions of dollars Taylor is believed to have syphoned into foreign bank accounts while he ruled Liberia from 1997 to 2003.

Sierra Leone: On Government’s Ban On Timber Logging And Exportatio…
AllAfrica.com – Feb 28, 2008
In the interior parts, especially in the Eastern Region, there had been exhaustive indiscriminate logging and exportation of timbers illegally to neighboring countries. In fact, the haphazard and free-for-all exercise gave some of the timber dealers the strong conviction that government has no hands in logging as long as the local bush owners have given their consent. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); Before the SLPP government took their final exit from the helms of affair in this country, it succeeded in selling and leasing some departments of the timber industry among which are the Kenema Sawmill Sierra Leone Limited, Tropical Timber Company, Exim Investment Sierra Leone limited, Gava Forest Investment Corporation to operate in Kenema District, Greenway Timber Company in Kono, Agrite and Resource Limited in Tonkoli and Savertin Forest Company in Bo District. Of all these companies, only one of them, Gava Forestry Industry based in Kenema has commenced full operation before the ban.

Sierra Leone: Amputee Team Seeks Government’s Help for Nations…
AllAfrica.com – Feb 28, 2008
FreetownThe Sierra Leone Amputee team is seeking help from government to take part in the second edition of the Amputee Football Federation of Africa (AFFA) Nations Cup in Monrovia, Liberia. The competition is expected to kick off from the 30th March to the 14th of April and the Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone amputee club, Albert Mustapha told Concord Sports that they are ready to represent the country in this year’s competition. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); He noted that their preparation is on but they need the help of government to facilitate their movement in representing the country for the forthcoming nation’s cup. Mustapha said, AFFA has already written an invitation letter to the Sierra Leone national team. According to the letter which was signed by AFFA President, Rev.

Sierra Leone: Female Musicians to Advocate for Women
AllAfrica.com – Feb 28, 2008
The association comprises of female musicians from all parts of the country including Lady Felicia, Markie, M2, Baby Lu, DJ Lulu among others. She disclosed that the group will soon embark on a sensitization programme at the National Stadium called ‘Female Tour’ which will commence on March 8th, a day that has been set aside to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. The tour will continue in Bo and Kenema.

Sierra Leone: “Slain Fullah Businessman Highest Lender Apart…
AllAfrica.com – Feb 28, 2008
Samoura Kamara last Friday revealed that slain Fullah businessman late Lamrana Bah was the highest lender apart from banks and said that his death is a loss to state economy. "The gruesome killing of Bah is a big blow to the economy of the country. He was the only man that gives out the highest loans to ordinary people to improve their lives apart from banks. I wonder when we will have such a man again," Dr Kamara decried.