Reuters AlertNet Lite - Protest in Guinea-Bissau after ex-navy chief slain

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Protest in Guinea-Bissau after ex-navy chief slain

06 Jan 2007 17:13:45 GMT
Source: Reuters

BISSAU, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Youths barricaded streets with burning tyres in a neighbourhood of Guinea-Bissau's capital on Saturday to protest against the murder of a former navy chief accused of helping to plot a coup.

Former navy chief of staff Mohamed Lamine Sanha died from his wounds on Saturday after being attacked by armed men two days ago at his house in the Bairro Militar district of Bissau. He was shot several times in the chest, leg and head.

"We want revenge. Lamine Sanha was cruelly assassinated and we want revenge for his death," one of the protesters, Omar Mane, told Reuters in Bairro Militar, 4 km (2.5 miles) from the centre of the dilapidated oceanside city.

"We're waiting for the security forces. We are ready to die," he said, as crowds shouted for vengeance behind him and set fire to barricades.

The West African country has been rocked by a series of coups and uprisings since independence from Portugal in 1974. Lamine Sanha was briefly detained last August, accused of plotting to kill the head of the army and launch a coup.

He was also close to late army leader Ansumane Mane, who overthrew current President Joao Bernardo Vieira after a 1998-99 civil war. Vieira won back the presidency in elections in 2005.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Guinea-Bissau profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Alliance urges action to close the HIV services gap at International Development Committee session on global HIV epidemic
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Mass measles vaccinations are effective at early signs of outbreak
MSF International

MORE >>

Latest news

• Protest in Guinea-Bissau after ex-navy chief slain

• Senegal offers $100,000 reward after official slain

• Attackers slit throat of Senegal party official

• Attackers slit throat of Senegal party official

• WEST AFRICA: IRIN-WA Weekly Round-up 359 for 2-8 December 2006

MORE >>

Last updated:Sat Jan 6 17:15:23 2007