Rebels release NZ man's body
2005-04-08 21:05
Abidjan - The body of a New Zealander who died in rebel custody has been released and is being held at a morgue in Ivory Coast's capital, Abidjan, the United Nations said on Friday.
Rebels captured Hamish Sands on March 11 en route from Abidjan to the northern rebel stronghold of Bouake, and held him on suspicion of being a mercenary. Rebels said he was found dead inside a prison cell in Korhogo, another northern rebel-held town, on April 5.
Hamadoun Toure, a spokesperson for the United Nations in the West African country, said Sands's body was flown to Abidjan on Thursday and was taken to the main morgue.
"I don't know if we have to do the autopsy or not," Toure said.
The New Zealand government has said it wants a full autopsy.
Sands, 36, died of natural causes, the rebels said. Other reports have suggested he may have committed suicide. New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff has said Sands might have been suffering mental health problems. He said Sands had served with the French Foreign Legion for 10 months but was dismissed for unpredictable and unstable actions, and heavy drinking.
Rebels who seized Sands said he had body armour, satellite navigation equipment and telephone numbers of government loyalist politicians and international mercenary companies. They accused him of being a mercenary sent to kill rebel leaders - a claim Sands and his family rejected.
Ivory Coast plunged into civil war after a failed September 2002 coup attempt against President Laurent Gbagbo turned into civil war. Various peace accords have failed to take hold. More than 10,000 United Nations and French peacekeepers patrol a buffer zone dividing the country.
- AP