WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the hostage-taking by rebels in Sierra Leone could cost their leader, Foday Sankoh, his ministerial post. But he expressed relief Monday that 139 additional U.N. peacekeepers have been set free. CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us by phone from the capital, Freetown, with more.</s>BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf. Well, the fighting on the front lines between government and rebel forces continued Monday, but the government advance seems to have slowed down. Troops continue to complain about a lack of food and ammunition, and tensions seem to be mounting between the Sierra Leonean army and the various militias which have, at the moment, thrown in their lot with the government. Today journalists were shown of bodies of nine rebels from the Revolutionary United Front killed in the recent fighting. Some of the bodies had uniforms with Zambian military insignia, stripped from Zambian peacekeepers taken prisoner by the RUF two weeks ago. And on the issue of those troops, the RUF has released 139 of the nearly 500 peacekeepers seized 10 days ago. And, of course, their capture is what sparked the current crisis here. Late Sunday, the RUF handed the peacekeepers over to Liberian authorities after Liberian President Charles Taylor had used his influence with the rebels to win their release. U.N. officials say that they hope that the peacekeepers, the other peacekeepers, will be released soon -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Thank you, Ben Wedeman in Sierra Leone.
Rebels in Sierra Leone Release 139 Peacekeepers Held Hostage