'Mental' NZ man may be released
2005-03-23 12:33
Wellington - The family of a New Zealand man being held by Ivory Coast rebels said on Wednesday that they've received reports that he may be released.
Hamish Sands, 36, was captured by rebels on March 11 while en route from the government-controlled city of Abidjan to Bouake, a guerrilla stronghold. The insurgents say he is a mercenary hired by Ivory Coast's government, possibly to assassinate some rebel leaders.
The Ivory Coast government has denied the rebel claims, saying it doesn't hire mercenaries.
Meanwhile, New Zealand officials have said Sands may suffer from mental health problems and invented some of the information he provided the rebels. Sands had served with the French Foreign Legion for 10 months but was dismissed for unpredictable and unstable actions, and heavy drinking.
Matter is personal
On Wednesday, his sister, Catherine Sands-Wearing, told reporters the family "have been encouraged by reports that the (rebels) have nearly completed their own investigations and the indications seem to be that a release is a possibility."
She added that the family has provided the rebels more information about Sands, hoping it would persuade them to free him. She declined to elaborate on the information, saying it was "quite personal."
"We don't have any details about why he is there, but he did say to the British ambassador that he's not guilty," Sands-Wearing said.
New Zealand has no consular representation in Ivory Coast, and is working through Britain to secure Sands' release.
Sands-Wearing also said the family had received reports from the British ambassador and the Red Cross that her brother was being well treated. But she added: "We remain very concerned for his safety and again ask that he be released and be allowed to leave the country."
Rebel spokesperson Amadou Kone said last week the guerrillas had no intention of killing Sands.
Ivory Coast plunged into civil war after a failed September 2002 coup attempt. A 2003 peace deal has failed to take hold. More than 10 000 United Nations and French peacekeepers patrol the front lines.
- AP