This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7920579.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Emergency summit in Guinea-Bissau | Emergency summit in Guinea-Bissau |
(40 minutes later) | |
Regional leaders are visiting the West African state of Guinea-Bissau in an effort to defuse the crisis following the assassination of the president. | Regional leaders are visiting the West African state of Guinea-Bissau in an effort to defuse the crisis following the assassination of the president. |
Soldiers killed Joao Bernardo Vieira on Monday in an apparent tit-for-tat attack after army chief-of-staff Gen Tagme Na Waie was blown up. | Soldiers killed Joao Bernardo Vieira on Monday in an apparent tit-for-tat attack after army chief-of-staff Gen Tagme Na Waie was blown up. |
West African regional group Ecowas is due to hold an emergency summit about the crisis in the capital, Bissau. | West African regional group Ecowas is due to hold an emergency summit about the crisis in the capital, Bissau. |
The city reportedly remains calm in the aftermath of the double assassination. | The city reportedly remains calm in the aftermath of the double assassination. |
Bizarre twist | |
The British consul in Bissau, Jan van Maanen, told the BBC's Network Africa programme the capital was deserted. | The British consul in Bissau, Jan van Maanen, told the BBC's Network Africa programme the capital was deserted. |
"There's no traffic, there's nobody on the street at all actually," he said. "There's no military on the streets, there's no check-points." | "There's no traffic, there's nobody on the street at all actually," he said. "There's no military on the streets, there's no check-points." |
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
In a bizarre twist, it has emerged British novelist Frederick Forsyth was in Guinea-Bissau as the president was assassinated. He described the drama, which could have leapt straight from the pages of one of his thrillers. | |
The Day of the Jackal author told the BBC's World Today programme he was told that soldiers first threw a bomb through the president's villa and the blast caused the roof to collapse. | |
Mr Vieira had emerged alive from the rubble and was shot by his assailants but still did not die, said the writer, who was in the country to research a new book. | |
The soldiers then took the wounded president to his mother-in-law's house where they "chopped him to bits" with machetes, according to Forsyth. | |
'Island exile' | |
Hours earlier a bomb had killed the army chief at his headquarters. The device was reportedly hidden underneath the staircase leading to Gen Waie's office. | |
Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe - has been plagued by coups and political unrest since independence from Portugal in 1974. | Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe - has been plagued by coups and political unrest since independence from Portugal in 1974. |
Gen Tagme Na Waie was once reportedly exiled to a desert island | |
The African Union's Peace and Security Council met on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to discuss their response to the crisis. | The African Union's Peace and Security Council met on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to discuss their response to the crisis. |
According to the AU's statutes, member states should be suspended in the event of an unconstitutional power-change, as were Mauritania and Guinea after coups last year. | According to the AU's statutes, member states should be suspended in the event of an unconstitutional power-change, as were Mauritania and Guinea after coups last year. |
Ecowas Chairman Mohamed Ibn Chambas told the BBC five West African foreign ministers were joining him in Guinea-Bissau and they would seek to ensure the army does not seize power. | Ecowas Chairman Mohamed Ibn Chambas told the BBC five West African foreign ministers were joining him in Guinea-Bissau and they would seek to ensure the army does not seize power. |
He said: "We see these two [deaths] as certainly a step backwards, and we will remain resolved in the region and ensure that constitutional rule in Guinea-Bissau is respected." | He said: "We see these two [deaths] as certainly a step backwards, and we will remain resolved in the region and ensure that constitutional rule in Guinea-Bissau is respected." |
The European Union and former colonial ruler Portugal have also called for the rule of law to be respected. | The European Union and former colonial ruler Portugal have also called for the rule of law to be respected. |
The army has denied it is launching a coup and promised to honour the constitution. | The army has denied it is launching a coup and promised to honour the constitution. |
JOAO BERNARDO VIEIRA Electrician by tradeKey figure in struggle against Portuguese colonial rule1980: Came to power in coup, as head of armed forces1994: Won country's first multi-party elections1999: Overthrown after sacking army chief2005: Returned from exile to win presidential election Obituary: President VieiraHaunted by history of crisis | |
Under the charter, the speaker of parliament, Raimundo Pereira, has now taken office and must arrange elections within 60 days. | Under the charter, the speaker of parliament, Raimundo Pereira, has now taken office and must arrange elections within 60 days. |
The cabinet has announced seven days of national mourning for both leaders and launched a judicial inquiry into the deaths. | The cabinet has announced seven days of national mourning for both leaders and launched a judicial inquiry into the deaths. |
Braima Camara, a reporter from privately-owned Radio Pindiquiti in Bissau, told the BBC that Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had sent a plane to pick up Mr Vieira's wife and children and take them to Dakar. | Braima Camara, a reporter from privately-owned Radio Pindiquiti in Bissau, told the BBC that Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had sent a plane to pick up Mr Vieira's wife and children and take them to Dakar. |
Monday's attack was the second on President Vieira in recent months. In November, his residence was attacked by soldiers with automatic weapons. | |
New details have emerged of the enmity between the two men, who had been his political rival for decades. | New details have emerged of the enmity between the two men, who had been his political rival for decades. |
In January, Gen Waie had a narrow escape when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car. | In January, Gen Waie had a narrow escape when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car. |
He reportedly suspected the attack had been ordered by Mr Vieira as he had just stepped outside after receiving a call from the presidency asking him to come at once. | He reportedly suspected the attack had been ordered by Mr Vieira as he had just stepped outside after receiving a call from the presidency asking him to come at once. |
Gen Waie was reportedly among majority ethnic Balanta officers suspected of plotting a coup and punished in the late 1980s by the president, who came from the minority Papel ethnic group. | Gen Waie was reportedly among majority ethnic Balanta officers suspected of plotting a coup and punished in the late 1980s by the president, who came from the minority Papel ethnic group. |
Mr Vieira exiled the army chief for a number of years to a deserted island off the coast of Guinea-Bissau before he was officially pardoned and allowed to return, Gen Waie's chief-of-staff, Lt Col Bwam Namtcho, told AP news agency. | Mr Vieira exiled the army chief for a number of years to a deserted island off the coast of Guinea-Bissau before he was officially pardoned and allowed to return, Gen Waie's chief-of-staff, Lt Col Bwam Namtcho, told AP news agency. |