Lisbon, Portugal - Soldiers ousted the president of the West African nation
of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, taking advantage of widespread discontent with
his rule to seize power in a bloodless coup.

The army chief of staff, Gen. Verissimo Correia Seabre, declared himself in
charge of the country after the early-morning arrest of President Kumba
Yala. A dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed, and soldiers patrolled the streets
of the capital Bissau with automatic weapons and grenade launchers.

Several African countries including Nigeria and Senegal condemned the coup,
as did Portugal, the former colonial ruler. But some residents expressed
relief as much as alarm.

"It's all calm. People aren't afraid," a man said by phone from the capital.
"Everyone seems happy about (the coup). The country was being so badly run
that someone had to do something." He gave only his first name, Jorge.

Guinea-Bissau, a nation the size of Massachusetts with a population of about
1 million, is one of the world's poorest countries. The average annual gross
domestic product per capita is roughly $180, according to the World Bank.

Food shortages are common, and basic public services don't work. The country
is without electricity and many people lack even plumbing. Soldiers and
public sector employees have not been paid for more than six months.

The army announced the takeover by radio at 8 a.m. local time. Within hours
a military committee was established to govern the country, with Gen.
Correia Seabre in charge.

Mr. Seabre told Radiodifusao Portuguesa, Portugal's state broadcaster, that
he would maintain power until elections can be held.

"The situation there is calm and under control," Portuguese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Fernando Lima said, citing information provided by the Portuguese
embassy in Bissau. "There were no acts of violence, no shots fired and no
injuries."

Mr. Seabre said the army decided to end what he called Mr. Yala's misrule.
Mr. Yala has reneged four times in the past year on his pledge to hold
elections, most recently just last week. In his nearly three years of
office, the country has suffered steep economic decline. Mr. Yala alleged he
foiled a military plot to overthrow him in 2001.

It was difficult to independently verify events because plane flights into
the country were suspended and phone lines didn't work well and seem to have
been blocked.

Tensions had been rising for several months.

"The coup didn't catch me by surprise because the political situation was
deteriorating," Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano told reporters in
Maputo. As the current head of the African Union, Mr. Chissano condemned the
coup, as did Portugal.

"The Portuguese government regrets the military coup today in Guinea-Bissau
and appeals to those behind it to return constitutional legality to the
country immediately," the government said in a statement.

Nigeria, a leading power in West Africa, strongly condemned the coup and
said it would join other countries in the region in resisting the changes.

"Nigeria is ... determined to contribute to all steps necessary to restore
law, order and constitutionality in Guinea-Bissau," a statement said.

Mr. Yala, a philosophy graduate from Lisbon University, won an overwhelming
victory in a 1999 election. The election was part of an accord to end a
devastating 1998 rebellion that killed more than 2,000 people.

He was viewed as the best candidate to end government corruption and
generate economic growth after years of stagnation. However, he subsequently
appointed and fired five prime ministers and 50 other members of the
government.

In recent years the United Nations and Amnesty International have expressed
concern about alleged human rights abuses under his rule.

Soldiers detained Mr. Yala at the main military barracks in Bissau, but Gen.
Correia Seabre said Mr. Yala would be released.

A senior member of the main opposition party, the United Platform, welcomed
the coup. Fernando Vaz told the Portuguese news agency Lusa said deposing
Mr. Yala had been "inevitable."

Lima da Costa, the secretary-general of the Guinea-Bissau's General Workers'
Union, told Lusa he was calling off a general strike planned for next week,
the latest in a series of strikes to protest low pay and poor working
conditions.

The Senegalese Foreign Ministry said Gen. Correia Seabre called President
Abdoulaye Wade about two hours before the coup to inform him of the decision
to overthrow Mr. Yala.

Gen. Correia Seabre "said the military had no intention of holding on to
power, but would launch a transitional period to organize free and fair
elections in cooperation with the international community," according to a
ministry statement.

Mr. Wade urged them to return power to Mr. Yala and later contacted
President John Kufuor of Ghana and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the
statement said.

King Pineapple wrote:

Lisbon, Portugal - Soldiers ousted the president of the West African nation
of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, taking advantage of widespread discontent with
his rule to seize power in a bloodless coup.

The army chief of staff, Gen. Verissimo Correia Seabre, declared himself in
charge of the country after the early-morning arrest of President Kumba
Yala. A dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed, and soldiers patrolled the streets
of the capital Bissau with automatic weapons and grenade launchers.

Several African countries including Nigeria and Senegal condemned the coup,
as did Portugal, the former colonial ruler. But some residents expressed
relief as much as alarm.

"It's all calm. People aren't afraid," a man said by phone from the capital.
"Everyone seems happy about (the coup). The country was being so badly run
that someone had to do something." He gave only his first name, Jorge.

Guinea-Bissau, a nation the size of Massachusetts with a population of about
1 million, is one of the world's poorest countries. The average annual gross
domestic product per capita is roughly $180, according to the World Bank.

Food shortages are common, and basic public services don't work. The country
is without electricity and many people lack even plumbing. Soldiers and
public sector employees have not been paid for more than six months.

The army announced the takeover by radio at 8 a.m. local time. Within hours
a military committee was established to govern the country, with Gen.
Correia Seabre in charge.

Mr. Seabre told Radiodifusao Portuguesa, Portugal's state broadcaster, that
he would maintain power until elections can be held.

"The situation there is calm and under control," Portuguese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Fernando Lima said, citing information provided by the Portuguese
embassy in Bissau. "There were no acts of violence, no shots fired and no
injuries."

Mr. Seabre said the army decided to end what he called Mr. Yala's misrule.
Mr. Yala has reneged four times in the past year on his pledge to hold
elections, most recently just last week. In his nearly three years of
office, the country has suffered steep economic decline. Mr. Yala alleged he
foiled a military plot to overthrow him in 2001.

It was difficult to independently verify events because plane flights into
the country were suspended and phone lines didn't work well and seem to have
been blocked.

Tensions had been rising for several months.

"The coup didn't catch me by surprise because the political situation was
deteriorating," Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano told reporters in
Maputo. As the current head of the African Union, Mr. Chissano condemned the
coup, as did Portugal.

"The Portuguese government regrets the military coup today in Guinea-Bissau
and appeals to those behind it to return constitutional legality to the
country immediately," the government said in a statement.

Nigeria, a leading power in West Africa, strongly condemned the coup and
said it would join other countries in the region in resisting the changes.

"Nigeria is ... determined to contribute to all steps necessary to restore
law, order and constitutionality in Guinea-Bissau," a statement said.

Mr. Yala, a philosophy graduate from Lisbon University, won an overwhelming
victory in a 1999 election. The election was part of an accord to end a
devastating 1998 rebellion that killed more than 2,000 people.

He was viewed as the best candidate to end government corruption and
generate economic growth after years of stagnation. However, he subsequently
appointed and fired five prime ministers and 50 other members of the
government.

In recent years the United Nations and Amnesty International have expressed
concern about alleged human rights abuses under his rule.

Soldiers detained Mr. Yala at the main military barracks in Bissau, but Gen.
Correia Seabre said Mr. Yala would be released.

A senior member of the main opposition party, the United Platform, welcomed
the coup. Fernando Vaz told the Portuguese news agency Lusa said deposing
Mr. Yala had been "inevitable."

Lima da Costa, the secretary-general of the Guinea-Bissau's General Workers'
Union, told Lusa he was calling off a general strike planned for next week,
the latest in a series of strikes to protest low pay and poor working
conditions.

The Senegalese Foreign Ministry said Gen. Correia Seabre called President
Abdoulaye Wade about two hours before the coup to inform him of the decision
to overthrow Mr. Yala.

Gen. Correia Seabre "said the military had no intention of holding on to
power, but would launch a transitional period to organize free and fair
elections in cooperation with the international community," according to a
ministry statement.

Mr. Wade urged them to return power to Mr. Yala and later contacted
President John Kufuor of Ghana and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the
statement said.

Unfortunately there is currently no shortwave broadcasting from Guinea-Bissau.

Steve
Holland, MI

Drake R7, R8, R8B and Yaesu FRG-7700

King Pineapple wrote:


Lisbon, Portugal - Soldiers ousted the president of the West African nation
of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, taking advantage of widespread discontent with
his rule to seize power in a bloodless coup.

The army chief of staff, Gen. Verissimo Correia Seabre, declared himself in
charge of the country after the early-morning arrest of President Kumba
Yala. A dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed, and soldiers patrolled the streets
of the capital Bissau with automatic weapons and grenade launchers.

Several African countries including Nigeria and Senegal condemned the coup,
as did Portugal, the former colonial ruler. But some residents expressed
relief as much as alarm.

"It's all calm. People aren't afraid," a man said by phone from the capital.
"Everyone seems happy about (the coup). The country was being so badly run
that someone had to do something." He gave only his first name, Jorge.

Guinea-Bissau, a nation the size of Massachusetts with a population of about
1 million, is one of the world's poorest countries. The average annual gross
domestic product per capita is roughly $180, according to the World Bank.

Food shortages are common, and basic public services don't work. The country
is without electricity and many people lack even plumbing. Soldiers and
public sector employees have not been paid for more than six months.

The army announced the takeover by radio at 8 a.m. local time. Within hours
a military committee was established to govern the country, with Gen.
Correia Seabre in charge.

Mr. Seabre told Radiodifusao Portuguesa, Portugal's state broadcaster, that
he would maintain power until elections can be held.

"The situation there is calm and under control," Portuguese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Fernando Lima said, citing information provided by the Portuguese
embassy in Bissau. "There were no acts of violence, no shots fired and no
injuries."

Mr. Seabre said the army decided to end what he called Mr. Yala's misrule.
Mr. Yala has reneged four times in the past year on his pledge to hold
elections, most recently just last week. In his nearly three years of
office, the country has suffered steep economic decline. Mr. Yala alleged he
foiled a military plot to overthrow him in 2001.

It was difficult to independently verify events because plane flights into
the country were suspended and phone lines didn't work well and seem to have
been blocked.

Tensions had been rising for several months.

"The coup didn't catch me by surprise because the political situation was
deteriorating," Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano told reporters in
Maputo. As the current head of the African Union, Mr. Chissano condemned the
coup, as did Portugal.

"The Portuguese government regrets the military coup today in Guinea-Bissau
and appeals to those behind it to return constitutional legality to the
country immediately," the government said in a statement.

Nigeria, a leading power in West Africa, strongly condemned the coup and
said it would join other countries in the region in resisting the changes.

"Nigeria is ... determined to contribute to all steps necessary to restore
law, order and constitutionality in Guinea-Bissau," a statement said.

Mr. Yala, a philosophy graduate from Lisbon University, won an overwhelming
victory in a 1999 election. The election was part of an accord to end a
devastating 1998 rebellion that killed more than 2,000 people.

He was viewed as the best candidate to end government corruption and
generate economic growth after years of stagnation. However, he subsequently
appointed and fired five prime ministers and 50 other members of the
government.

In recent years the United Nations and Amnesty International have expressed
concern about alleged human rights abuses under his rule.

Soldiers detained Mr. Yala at the main military barracks in Bissau, but Gen.
Correia Seabre said Mr. Yala would be released.

A senior member of the main opposition party, the United Platform, welcomed
the coup. Fernando Vaz told the Portuguese news agency Lusa said deposing
Mr. Yala had been "inevitable."

Lima da Costa, the secretary-general of the Guinea-Bissau's General Workers'
Union, told Lusa he was calling off a general strike planned for next week,
the latest in a series of strikes to protest low pay and poor working
conditions.

The Senegalese Foreign Ministry said Gen. Correia Seabre called President
Abdoulaye Wade about two hours before the coup to inform him of the decision
to overthrow Mr. Yala.

Gen. Correia Seabre "said the military had no intention of holding on to
power, but would launch a transitional period to organize free and fair
elections in cooperation with the international community," according to a
ministry statement.

Mr. Wade urged them to return power to Mr. Yala and later contacted
President John Kufuor of Ghana and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the
statement said.

Spain reported tonight that Correia Seabre is holding Yala under house
arrest until a delegation from five other West African nations who are
scheduled to arrive in a couple days can be persuaded to support the
coup. I wonder what'll happen if the delegates refuse to go along...

I worked in that place more than 10 years ago...It's the most f+cked
up country I've ever been in Africa...and that's saying alot (in
comparison to some of the other places)...

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 17:30:21 -0700, tommyknocker
wrote:

King Pineapple wrote:


Lisbon, Portugal - Soldiers ousted the president of the West African nation
of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, taking advantage of widespread discontent with
his rule to seize power in a bloodless coup.

The army chief of staff, Gen. Verissimo Correia Seabre, declared himself in
charge of the country after the early-morning arrest of President Kumba
Yala. A dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed, and soldiers patrolled the streets
of the capital Bissau with automatic weapons and grenade launchers.

Several African countries including Nigeria and Senegal condemned the coup,
as did Portugal, the former colonial ruler. But some residents expressed
relief as much as alarm.

"It's all calm. People aren't afraid," a man said by phone from the capital.
"Everyone seems happy about (the coup). The country was being so badly run
that someone had to do something." He gave only his first name, Jorge.

Guinea-Bissau, a nation the size of Massachusetts with a population of about
1 million, is one of the world's poorest countries. The average annual gross
domestic product per capita is roughly $180, according to the World Bank.

Food shortages are common, and basic public services don't work. The country
is without electricity and many people lack even plumbing. Soldiers and
public sector employees have not been paid for more than six months.

The army announced the takeover by radio at 8 a.m. local time. Within hours
a military committee was established to govern the country, with Gen.
Correia Seabre in charge.

Mr. Seabre told Radiodifusao Portuguesa, Portugal's state broadcaster, that
he would maintain power until elections can be held.

"The situation there is calm and under control," Portuguese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Fernando Lima said, citing information provided by the Portuguese
embassy in Bissau. "There were no acts of violence, no shots fired and no
injuries."

Mr. Seabre said the army decided to end what he called Mr. Yala's misrule.
Mr. Yala has reneged four times in the past year on his pledge to hold
elections, most recently just last week. In his nearly three years of
office, the country has suffered steep economic decline. Mr. Yala alleged he
foiled a military plot to overthrow him in 2001.

It was difficult to independently verify events because plane flights into
the country were suspended and phone lines didn't work well and seem to have
been blocked.

Tensions had been rising for several months.

"The coup didn't catch me by surprise because the political situation was
deteriorating," Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano told reporters in
Maputo. As the current head of the African Union, Mr. Chissano condemned the
coup, as did Portugal.

"The Portuguese government regrets the military coup today in Guinea-Bissau
and appeals to those behind it to return constitutional legality to the
country immediately," the government said in a statement.

Nigeria, a leading power in West Africa, strongly condemned the coup and
said it would join other countries in the region in resisting the changes.

"Nigeria is ... determined to contribute to all steps necessary to restore
law, order and constitutionality in Guinea-Bissau," a statement said.

Mr. Yala, a philosophy graduate from Lisbon University, won an overwhelming
victory in a 1999 election. The election was part of an accord to end a
devastating 1998 rebellion that killed more than 2,000 people.

He was viewed as the best candidate to end government corruption and
generate economic growth after years of stagnation. However, he subsequently
appointed and fired five prime ministers and 50 other members of the
government.

In recent years the United Nations and Amnesty International have expressed
concern about alleged human rights abuses under his rule.

Soldiers detained Mr. Yala at the main military barracks in Bissau, but Gen.
Correia Seabre said Mr. Yala would be released.

A senior member of the main opposition party, the United Platform, welcomed
the coup. Fernando Vaz told the Portuguese news agency Lusa said deposing
Mr. Yala had been "inevitable."

Lima da Costa, the secretary-general of the Guinea-Bissau's General Workers'
Union, told Lusa he was calling off a general strike planned for next week,
the latest in a series of strikes to protest low pay and poor working
conditions.

The Senegalese Foreign Ministry said Gen. Correia Seabre called President
Abdoulaye Wade about two hours before the coup to inform him of the decision
to overthrow Mr. Yala.

Gen. Correia Seabre "said the military had no intention of holding on to
power, but would launch a transitional period to organize free and fair
elections in cooperation with the international community," according to a
ministry statement.

Mr. Wade urged them to return power to Mr. Yala and later contacted
President John Kufuor of Ghana and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the
statement said.

Spain reported tonight that Correia Seabre is holding Yala under house
arrest until a delegation from five other West African nations who are
scheduled to arrive in a couple days can be persuaded to support the
coup. I wonder what'll happen if the delegates refuse to go along...