There were preparations for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, including child soldiers. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Civil Defence Forces, former Sierra Leone Armed Forces/Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and all other armed groups were called upon to lay down their arms. Meanwhile, the Council deplored the taking of hostages, including personnel from the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) and the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) by rebel groups.