Guinea-Bissau

Coup attempt fails

Article published on the 2008-11-23 Latest update 2008-11-23 12:58 TU

Joao Bernardo Vieira
(Photo: AFP)

Guinea-Bissau's Interior Minister has told RFI that an attempted coup has been defeated. A group of soldiers attacked the presidential palace overnight. Officials say that one of the attackers were killed and five are being held. A coup attempt in August failed, while a general election on 16 November gave the ruling party a large majority in Parliament.

The attack took place at 3 am local time, with soldiers attacking members of a special police guard who have been protecting President Joao Bernardo Vieira since the August coup attempt.

"It was a coup attempt," Interior Minister Cypriano Cassama told RFI's French service.

"They were shooting at the President's hous. It lasted from 1 am to 4 am. They were shooting with Kalashnikovs and heavy weaponry."

Cassama says that several arrests have been made and that five mutineers are being held.

Vieira phoned Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade soon after the attack and Wade was the first to make the news public.

African Union Commission President Jean Ping, speaking from Addis Ababa, "condemned in advance any attempt to seize power by force".

Results from this month's general election were announced on Friday, giving the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which used to be the only legal party, 67 of the 100 seats.

The newly-formed Republican Party for Independence and Development (Prid), which was formed with the President's backing, won three seats. The Party for Social Renovation (PRS) of former President Kumba Yalla, who was ousted in a coup in 2003, won 28 seats.

Guinea-Bissau, a former Portugese colony, is one of the poorest countries in the world.