◆ SpookStack

s -/W FBI/TFOS Travel to Freetown and Kono, Sierra Leone On June 6, 2003, FBI/TFOS traveled to the Kono diamond field region of Sierra Leone where, according to media reports, al Qaeda fugitives Ahmed Ghailani and Fazul Mohammed traveled in late December 2000January 2001. These al Qaeda fugitives allegedly stayed at Small Lebanon, the residence/office of RUF Ground Commander Issa Sesay, for several days during this period and remained in the Kono area for three weeks. FBI/TFOS visited Small Lebanon and other areas around the Kono region, including the main diamond mining area. While in the region, FBI/TFOS interviewed a former RUF Commander in charge of Kono; the RUF liaison officer in charge of all passes for visitors; and a Sierra Leone government intelligence officer, all of whom were in the area and had visited Sesay at Small Lebanon on an almost daily basis during the relevant time period. They stated that they would have known if foreigners were ever at Small Lebanon or in the Kono region. They all advised that they were unaware that any white, Middle Eastern, or East Africans were ever present at Small Lebanon or in the Kono area. They were shown a photo spread containing photographs of al Qaeda fugitives Ahmed 8 REQ 54a thru e UOOUQOOB8 ~392 G G b6 b7C b7D