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Guinea-Bissau speaker is sworn in | Guinea-Bissau speaker is sworn in |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Guinea-Bissau's parliament has elected the speaker as the West African state's interim leader, a day after the president was assassinated. | Guinea-Bissau's parliament has elected the speaker as the West African state's interim leader, a day after the president was assassinated. |
Raimundo Pereira must organise a fresh presidential election within 60 days. | Raimundo Pereira must organise a fresh presidential election within 60 days. |
President Joao Bernardo Vieira was shot dead by soldiers who blamed him for a bomb attack that killed the army chief on Sunday. | President Joao Bernardo Vieira was shot dead by soldiers who blamed him for a bomb attack that killed the army chief on Sunday. |
The UN Security Council condemned the two killings and urged the government to bring those responsible to justice. | The UN Security Council condemned the two killings and urged the government to bring those responsible to justice. |
Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe - has been plagued by political unrest since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974. | Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe - has been plagued by political unrest since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974. |
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
Before taking the oath of office on Tuesday, national assembly leader Mr Pereira said Guinea-Bissau was "facing a very delicate situation". | Before taking the oath of office on Tuesday, national assembly leader Mr Pereira said Guinea-Bissau was "facing a very delicate situation". |
He called on MPs "to assume their responsibility toward the nation". | He called on MPs "to assume their responsibility toward the nation". |
Lawmakers in the capital Bissau also observed a moment of silence for President Vieira and for the army chief-of-staff Gen Tagme Na Waie. | Lawmakers in the capital Bissau also observed a moment of silence for President Vieira and for the army chief-of-staff Gen Tagme Na Waie. |
Life in the city began to return to normal with some businesses re-opening, although shoppers briefly fled two market places in panic after rumours spread of fresh shooting, according to Reuters news agency. | Life in the city began to return to normal with some businesses re-opening, although shoppers briefly fled two market places in panic after rumours spread of fresh shooting, according to Reuters news agency. |
'Fragile situation' | 'Fragile situation' |
Guinea Bissau swears in new leader | |
The United Nations Security Council "condemns in the strongest terms the assassinations," the 15-member body said in a statement. | The United Nations Security Council "condemns in the strongest terms the assassinations," the 15-member body said in a statement. |
"The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to support the efforts of the government and people of Guinea-Bissau to consolidate democratic institutions, peace and stability in that country". | "The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to support the efforts of the government and people of Guinea-Bissau to consolidate democratic institutions, peace and stability in that country". |
The statement also said the council "opposes any attempt to change the government through unconstitutional means". | The statement also said the council "opposes any attempt to change the government through unconstitutional means". |
Diplomats representing West African and Portuguese-speaking nations have also said they hope the constitution will be honoured. | Diplomats representing West African and Portuguese-speaking nations have also said they hope the constitution will be honoured. |
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, who heads the 15-member regional bloc Ecowas, has sent a delegation to the country. | Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, who heads the 15-member regional bloc Ecowas, has sent a delegation to the country. |
Obituary: President VieiraHaunted by history of crisis "The fragile political situation in Guinea-Bissau has been further weakened by these events," he said. | Obituary: President VieiraHaunted by history of crisis "The fragile political situation in Guinea-Bissau has been further weakened by these events," he said. |
Soldiers killed President Vieira early on Monday in an apparent tit-for-tat attack after Gen Waie was blown up in his headquarters hours earlier. | Soldiers killed President Vieira early on Monday in an apparent tit-for-tat attack after Gen Waie was blown up in his headquarters hours earlier. |
The African Union's Peace and Security Council decided not to suspend Guinea-Bissau when it met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday, as it said the attacks did not represent a coup. | The African Union's Peace and Security Council decided not to suspend Guinea-Bissau when it met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday, as it said the attacks did not represent a coup. |
The AU suspended neighbouring Guinea and Mauritania after coups last year. | The AU suspended neighbouring Guinea and Mauritania after coups last year. |
Guinea-Bissau's army has denied it is launching a coup and has promised to honour the constitution. | Guinea-Bissau's army has denied it is launching a coup and has promised to honour the constitution. |
Portugal's foreign minister also arrived in Bissau and reportedly said he did not see any need for international military intervention in the country. | Portugal's foreign minister also arrived in Bissau and reportedly said he did not see any need for international military intervention in the country. |
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has reportedly sent a plane to pick up Mr Vieira's wife and children and take them to Dakar. | Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has reportedly sent a plane to pick up Mr Vieira's wife and children and take them to Dakar. |
Guinea-Bissau, an impoverished former Portuguese colony of 1.6 million people, has been plagued by coups since 1980, when Mr Vieira himself first came to power in one. | Guinea-Bissau, an impoverished former Portuguese colony of 1.6 million people, has been plagued by coups since 1980, when Mr Vieira himself first came to power in one. |
Monday's attack was the second on President Vieira in recent months. | Monday's attack was the second on President Vieira in recent months. |
In November, his residence was targeted by soldiers with automatic weapons. | In November, his residence was targeted by soldiers with automatic weapons. |
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. |