Guinea Bissau: President laid to rest

  1. Posted on Wednesday 11 March 2009 - 09:30
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    The former President of Guinea Bissau has been laid to rest in the capital Bissau following a military guard of honor and a 21 gun salute. President Vieira was killed a week ago in a revenge attack by some army officers loyal to the former army chief General Tagme Na Waie who was also assassinated in a bomb attack.
    pres. G. Bissau
    The former President Vieira’s coffin was draped in the country’s national flag and laid in state on Monday night to show last respect. Vieira’s wife Isabela who had earlier seek refuge at the Angolan embassy after her husband was killed was in attendance to receive condolences from friends, family members, ministers and members of the diplomatic core.

    It was reported that only Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and the Sao Tome President and the foreign minister of Portugal Joao Gomes Cravinho were in attendance at the burial ceremony.

    The West African State of Guinea Bissau has long been described as a failed state. It is a major transshipment point for South American drug traffickers. The army in one incident had to clash with the Police at the country’s main airport for a plane load of cocaine as they (Police) were trying to search the cargo plane, the army described the plane as a “special interest.’’

    Meanwhile, the capital Bissau and else where is reported to be quiet and the Speaker of Parliament who is now the interim leader Raimundo Pereira is expected to hold elections in sixty days time.

    Despite the army denial of trying to seize power the country’s civil society have warned that some politicians are inciting the military to take over power.

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