English/Nat On the eve of a UN Security Council vote on whether to send a peacekeeping force into trouble-torn Sierra Leone, up to five-thousand people took part in a rally against foreign intervention organised by the coup leaders. Coup leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma has warned that his country has to find its own way out of its crisis and does not want any foreign intervention. Speaking in the capital, Freetown, Koroma also warned that if ousted civilian president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah came back, he would be ruling over corpses. Supporters of the coup leaders, who took power last month in Sierra Leone, gathered for a so-called ecumenical prayer meeting at the national stadium on the capital Freetown. Coup leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma attended but didn't address the crowd and witnesses said he is becoming increasingly nervous. Supporters chanted "We want peace" and carried white flags. It was a far cry from the tens of thousands the coup leaders had hoped to see - despite threats from soldiers to strike the city. Sierra Leone's civilian President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was ousted from power on May 25 by forces under the command of Major Johnny Paul Koroma and his brother Brigadier Samuel Koroma. Nigeria has been building up its troops since the coup and is widely expected to strike again after last week's unsuccessful bid to oust the coup leaders. Earlier at a press conference, Major Koroma said envoys had been sent to meet West African leaders and explain their take-over and seek their support. Koroma stressed he didn't want foreign intervention and also warned Kabbah against any premature return. SOUNDBITE: (English) "What we're saying is that that would not be a solution that's all, because if President Kabbah comes back I think the situation will get worse. So I don't he would like to come back, because he would not like to come and see a devastated city or to rule over corpses. So I don't think he's ready to come back." SUPER CAPTION: Major Johnny Paul Koroma, coup leader But the Koroma brothers and their supporters in the ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council have yet to bring stability to the capital. Nigerian forces have launched mortar attacks on the city, destroying many buildings. The level of violence has kept citizens indoors and shut down the country. The new leaders are seeking to assert the strength of their regime by cracking down on crime in the capital. Members of the public surprised a looter who killed a man in the course of his raid in the west of Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown. Locals called on the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, whose anti-looting squads chased and shot the man for his crime, before stripping him and cutting off his head and arms. The attack was carried out in full view of the public. SOUNDBITE: (Krio) "This man he went to loot somebody. After robbing the person, he killed him and he left with property. He was seen and chased by the A-F-R-C (Army Forces Revolutionary Council) looting squad who shot him. He landed over there. He was shot again and his body mutilated with his head and hands cut off and left as example." SUPER CAPTION: Unidentified local resident who witnessed the shooting The level of violence has kept citizens indoors and shut down the country. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/d34c2754534ae554bf7220456071192b Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
• views: 5648