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FREETOWN - Britain's Prince Charles expressed his solidarity with Sierra Leoneans' efforts to rebuild their war-shattered country today during his first visit to the former British colony.
The heir to Britain's throne received an enthusiastic welcome, although some people in the poor West African state said foreign powers should do more to help rebuild their country, devastated by 11 years of civil war.
Charles joined drummers from the national dance troupe, watched a performance about deforestation and met development workers in the steamy heat of capital Freetown, founded in the 18th century by freed slaves sent from England.
"Our two nations share a long and close friendship," Charles told a packed audience including President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, government ministers and tribal elders.
"Within the lifetime of everyone here, Sierra Leone has suffered so deeply and so tragically. It was heartbreaking for people like myself to watch it go on."
Sierra Leone receives 40 million pounds ($114 million) a year from Britain, but still ranks as the second-least-developed country in the world, according to the United Nations.
Its 1991-2002 civil war, fuelled by the trade in "blood diamonds" in return for arms, was notorious for the RUF rebels' mutilation of women and children.
The prince visited a jungle warfare school where the British army was helping to train Sierra Leonean soldiers, many of them former child combatants.
Charles made the trip to recognise progress made ahead of elections slated for July next year. But he acknowledged the "immense and overwhelming challenges to rebuild this country".
Freetown's mayor, Winstanley Bankole Johnson, described the royal visit as "long overdue".
- REUTERS
