The events of the last week signal the most alarming threat to peace since a power-sharing government took over a year ago.

"This isn't winner take all," he said of the power-sharing government to be formed according to each party's share of the vote.

The hope had been to revive both the power-sharing government and scheduled elections to the assembly on May 29.

Mr. Sankoh had also been promised a role in a power-sharing government.

He held that post until a new power-sharing government was installed on 1 November 2001.

There was little hope that the power-sharing government could continue after this latest blow.

The devolved power-sharing government envisaged by the agreement would not become a reality for many years, and then in quite a different form.

That allowed him to live, join a power-sharing government, form his political party and, eventually, run for president.

A new transitional power-sharing government took office on 1 November 2001.

It brought angry Protestants back to the power-sharing government they had earlier quit in protest.