Rebels want proof captured Kiwi has mental problems

African rebels holding New Zealander Hamish Sands want documentation showing he suffers psychological problems - as the Government and his family has claimed - before considering his release.

Mr Sands, 36, is being held in the Ivory Coast rebel stronghold of Bouake accused of being a mercenary.

The New Forces rebels holding him captive claim he was carrying body armour, navigational equipment and an address book filled with the names of members of the ruling Ivorian Popular Front, Government forces and mercenary supply outfits.

The International Red Cross, acting on a request from the British Ambassador in Ivory Coast, has visited Mr Sands, and the Government said yesterday that it was negotiating his release.

"It's difficult because it's not quite the same thing as dealing with a Government, there's not formal diplomatic channels to go through and we're still considering what will happen next," said a spokesman for Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

A senior rebel official last night told the Herald he was not convinced Mr Sands was making up a story.

Cisse Sindou said apart from the military equipment he carried, Mr Sands had contacts in Ivory Coast who had been interviewed by the rebel forces as part of an investigation.

He said Mr Sands was co-operating with the investigation but the rebels would welcome any evidence from the New Zealand Government.

"Maybe the Government could contact us through the embassy to give a report of that [psychological] finding that would help us.

"That could be done through the UN. I think if we had some proof that would really help us to decide whether or not he's unfit.

"If you could have also [provide proof of] his background because this man has travelled everywhere in the world."

Mr Sindou said Mr Sands' passport showed he had travelled regularly to Sudan and had been to Egypt.

He said the passport also showed he had visited the Ivory Coast in the past and had stayed in Togo before arriving in Abidjan on February 21.

"He regularly goes to France, he has some friends there and he has one girlfriend in Sweden and one in Switzerland. His girlfriends call him on a regular basis and he has Ukrainian friends that call him also on a regular basis."

Mr Sindou said Mr Sands was carrying a cellphone with a local number at the time of his arrest.

The rebels believe Mr Sands has been "well-trained in his job" and has connections to a British private military company.

Mr Sindou conceded Mr Sands might be making up some stories but claimed he had an internet company "which we found out to be true because we called his partner".

Mr Sands would be released to the UN if he was found innocent, said Mr Sindou.

If he was found guilty he would be jailed until the end of the civil war.