EU imposes sanctions on Guinea-Bissau coup leaders

The European Union has imposed targeted sanctions on six coup leaders in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau.

They include a freeze on assets and a travel ban on the leaders who took power in a 12 April coup.

The move comes as the West African regional bloc Ecowas meets in Senegal to discuss what other actions to take against junta leaders in Guinea-Bissau and Mali.

Ecowas had already imposed sanctions on Guinea-Bissau earlier this week.

Guinea-Bissau: World community condemns transition

Union of West African states Ecowas, the African Union and other powers have condemned an "illegal" deal to transfer power in Guinea-Bissau.

The AU's Jean Ping said the agreement was a vain attempt to legitimise last week's military coup and demanded the restoration of constitutional order.

Meanwhile the World Bank and African Development Bank suspended millions of dollars in aid to Guinea-Bissau.

The junta has said it will hold elections in two years.

The West African nation has already been suspended from membership of the African Union until constitutional order is restored.

Guinea-Bissau, which has a long history of military take-overs since independence from Portugal in 1974, is one of the world's poorest countries - with almost 70% of people living in poverty and it is heavily dependent on foreign assistance.

Opposition accord

Earlier this week, mediators Ecowas held talks with the soldiers and said they had agreed to return the country to civilian rule, but no time frame was given.

The organisation recently intervened in Mali, imposing sanctions which forced the coup leaders - within weeks of last month's putsch - to hand over power to an interim president who must organise elections within 40 days.

Wednesday's accord in Guinea-Bissau outlining the transition period was signed with some opposition parties - but not with the country's PAIGC party, which has dominated politics since independence.

It confirms the dissolution of parliament and the creation of a National Transitional Council which will name an interim president and government.

Soldiers say they toppled the government over its alleged plans to reduce the size of the army.

The country's leaders, interim President Raimundo Pereira and Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, were arrested during last week's coup.

Mr Gomes was the only candidate in the second round of presidential elections scheduled for 29 April, called after the death in January of President Malam Bacai Sanha following a long illness.

Opposition candidate Kumba Yala pulled out of the poll, claiming fraud.

No elected leader in nearly 40 years of independence has finished their time in office in Guinea-Bissau, which has now become a major staging post for gangs smuggling cocaine from Latin America to Europe.

African Union suspends Guinea-Bissau over coup

The African Union says it has suspended Guinea Bissau's membership of the organisation after a coup last week by the west African state's military.

At a meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the AU's Peace and Security Council decided to suspend Guinea Bissau "until the restoration of constitutional order".

The suspension takes immediate effect.

The AU also says it will ask for international sanctions to be imposed on the country.

Soldiers toppled the government last Thursday over its alleged plans to reduce the size of the army.

The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, says the soldiers have agreed to return the country to civilian rule.

The president of the Ecowas commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo - who has been in Bissau for talks with the coup leaders - did not say when constitutional order would be restored.

There has been no word from the military.

Mr Ouedraogo said he had asked for political prisoners to be released, including Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, who was arrested during last week's coup.

Guinea-Bissau junta agrees pact with some parties

The junta in Guinea-Bissau has said it is setting up a transitional government along with some political parties as criticism of the coup continues.

Representatives of all of the defeated candidates in the first round of the presidential election have reportedly condemned the coup last Thursday.
Soldiers toppled the government over its alleged plans to reduce the size of the army.
No president has completed a term since independence from Portugal in 1974.
A delegation from the regional bloc Ecowas is hoping to persuade the junta to hand back power.
The latest coup happened just before the second round of presidential elections on 29 April, called after the death in January of President Malam Bacai Sanha following a long illness.
The front-runner, outgoing Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, is being detained by the army along with the interim President, Raimundo Pereira.
Trade unions have called for a general strike in protest at the coup.
Borders closed A spokesperson for opposition parties, Fernando Vaz, said that existing political institutions, including parliament, would be dissolved and replaced by a National Transitional Council.
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Confusion over Guinea-Bissau PM after 'coup'

There is confusion over the whereabouts of Guinea-Bissau's Prime Minister, Carlos Gomes Junior, after soldiers launched an apparent coup.

Earlier reports said Mr Gomes had been arrested by the army, but diplomats told the BBC they believe he is safe somewhere in the capital, Bissau.

Soldiers have been seen outside several embassies, apparently searching for Mr Gomes, who is running for president.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has strongly condemned Thursday's revolt.

A statement firmly denounced the "incursion by the military into politics" and called on the army rebels to ensure the safety of Mr Gomes, interim President Raimundo Pereira, and all senior officials currently detained.

In Bissau, a communique issued by the "military command" - as the rebel troops have named themselves - said its forces had detained the head of the armed forces, Antonio Indjai.

Earlier on Friday, a military press attache, Francelino Cunha, told the Associated Press that Prime Minister Gomes had been arrested inside his home - the scene of heavy gunfire and military activity on Thursday night.

The UN statement said the members of the Security Council "urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm."

"[They] note with profound regret that these events are occurring just prior to the launch of the campaign for the second round of the presidential election."

The suspected coup has also been denounced by the West African regional grouping, Ecowas, which said the military had once more demonstrated its "penchant to maintain Guinea-Bissau as a failed state".

Ecowas recently intervened in Mali, where there was a coup last month, ordering the coup leader to hand over power after imposing sanctions.

'Doing well'

Diplomatic sources quoted by the BBC's Thomas Fessy said Prime Minister Gomes was safe somewhere in Bissau.

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'Gunfire heard' in Guinea-Bissau capital

Soldiers have taken over parts of the capital of the West African state of Guinea-Bissau, reports say.

Heavy gunfire has been heard and soldiers are in control of main roads in the city, Bissau, according to eyewitnesses.

There are also reports of fighting near the residence of outgoing Prime Minister Carlos Gomes.

Mr Gomes came first in an inconclusive presidential election last month, but failed to win outright.

Troops are also reported to have taken control of the national radio station and the ruling party's headquarters.

The whereabouts of Mr Gomes and the interim President, Raimundo Pereira, are currently unknown, reports say.

The second-placed candidate in the March election, former President Kumba Yala, has said he will boycott the run-off vote scheduled for 29 April.

Mr Yala alleged that the election had been fraudulent.

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