A report to be published today on the Arms to Africa affair is set to raise serious questions about the role of Britain's High Commissioner Peter Penfold.

Mr Penfold, 53, of Fisherman's Wharf, Abingdon, was hailed a hero for his alleged part in helping to supply arms to Nigerian troops to oust Sierra Leone's hated military junta last February.

He took the highly unusual step of going into exile in Guinea with the deposed President Kabbah and also had at least one meeting with the British mercenary firm, Sandline, during preparations for restoring democratic civilian rule.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook was announcing major changes at the Foreign Office today after criticism over the affair.

He was making a statement to the Commons after an inquiry into whether ministers, Foreign Office officials or Mr Penfold approved arms sanctions-busting by Sandline.

An internal inquiry by Sir Thomas Legg is thought to have cleared ministers of secretly encouraging Sandline to stage a counter-coup in the African country.

But it criticises officials for failing to keep ministers adequately informed about the events leading up to the action.

The inquiry report is expected to raise serious questions about Mr Penfold's role but not provide conclusive answers to suspicions that he overstepped his brief.

Officials on the Foreign Office Africa desk are believed to take the brunt of the blame.

However, the criticism is said not to be serious enough to warrant any resignations.

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