Troops have prayed for the hostages' freedom

Relatives of the West Side Boys are expected to leave Freetown on Monday to visit their base to make a fresh appeal for the release of the captives.

A first plea was made by relatives last Tuesday, the day before five captives were released.

The West Side Boys want the release of their supporters from jail, a review of Sierra Leone's peace agreement and integration into the country's army. The government has rejected their terms.

The new release initiative was announced by former military ruler Johnny Paul Koroma, to whom the West Side Boys formerly gave allegiance.

He said the rebels had apparently not fulfilled a pledge they gave relatives on Thursday to release their hostages over the weekend.

The Sierra Leone Government has reiterated several times its determination not to make concessions to the hostage-takers.

Finance Minister James Jonah told the BBC: "The government has taken the position that we are not going to negotiate.

Children are widely used as soldiers

"The West Side gang are not a military threat. They are an irritation and a political nuisance. Therefore we don't see any reason why we should give in to some of the demands they have made," he said.

But the BBC's correspondent in Freetown, Mark Doyle, says sources close to the militia group believe clemency for past crimes may be one way of encouraging the kidnappers to come out of the jungle with their captives.

British Army officials have not disclosed details of how the release of five of the hostages was secured and particularly whether any concessions were made to the captors.

Recent reports from Sierra Leone suggest the British soldiers were captured by a group which included child fighters.

Prayers offered

British troops at the Royal Irish Regiment's Sierra Leone base at Benguema said prayers on Sunday for the release of the hostages.

The service was conducted by army chaplain Captain Joe Moesel and was attended by Brigadier Gordon Hughes, commander of the British forces in Sierra Leone.

Captain Moesel said: "Our instincts are to use action particularly for those of you who are in frontiers, that's what you are trained for, that's what you do best in many ways.

"But sometimes our instincts have to be outweighed by our professionalism and our professionalism calls for patience and for waiting."