DATE=5/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249098
TITLE=GUINEA-BISSAU / SURRENDER (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN GUINEA-BISSAU, REBELS HAVE BROUGHT THEIR YEAR-LONG
STRUGGLE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT TO A VIOLENT CLOSE. ON FRIDAY,
FOLLOWING SEVERAL HOURS OF VIOLENT COMBAT, THE REMAINING
GOVERNMENT LOYALISTS SURRENDERED TO THE REBELS, AND PRESIDENT
JOAO BERNARDO VIERA TOOK REFUGE IN THE PORTUGUESE EMBASSY. AS
V-O-A'S JOHN PITMAN REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU, THE
REBELS SAY THEY NOW CONTROL THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
TEXT: A REBEL SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED THE TAKE-OVER OF THE CAPITAL,
BISSAU, SHORTLY AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S TOP OFFICER ORDERED HIS
REMAINING TROOPS TO SURRENDER AND LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS.
BY EARLY AFTERNOON FRIDAY, REBEL SOLDIERS HAD OCCUPIED THE CENTER
OF TOWN, AND CHEERING CROWDS WERE LOOTING THE BURNING
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.
PORTUGUESE TELEVISION PICTURES SHOWED CIVILIANS DANCING IN THE
STREETS AS REBEL SOLDIERS ADVANCED, FIRING INTO THE AIR. BUT THE
TELEVISION ALSO SHOWED THE DARKER SIDE OF THE DAY'S EVENTS. AT
THE HOSPITAL, HEALTH WORKERS WERE SHOWN STACKING MORE THAN A
DOZEN BODIES IN A BLOODY PILE.
NEWS REPORTS SAY UP TO 100 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE FINAL
BATTLE.
BASED ON A CHRONOLOGY PATCHED TOGETHER FROM VARIOUS PORTUGUESE
NEWS SOURCES, PRESIDENT JOAO BERNARDO VIERA INITIALLY FLED THE
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WHEN IT CAME UNDER SUSTAINED REBEL ATTACK AND
CAUGHT FIRE.
IT IS UNCLEAR WHERE THE PRESIDENT WENT FIRST AFTER FLEEING THE
PALACE, BUT BY LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON HE WAS INSIDE THE PORTUGUESE
EMBASSY, WHERE HE WAS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR ASYLUM.
// OPT // FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON FRIDAY, MR. VIERA WAS BELIEVED TO
HAVE SOUGHT SHELTER IN THE FRENCH EMBASSY'S CULTURAL CENTER.
THAT BUILDING WAS ALSO BURNED AND LOOTED IN THE REBEL ASSAULT,
FORCING THE FRENCH DIPLOMATS AND THEIR MILITARY ESCORTS TO MOVE
TO THE PORTUGUESE EMBASSY AS WELL. // END OPT //
ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM THE PORTUGUESE NEWS AGENCY, THE FINAL
REBEL ASSAULT ON THE CAPITAL WAS SPARKED BY A DISAGREEMENT OVER
HOW THE 600-MEMBER PRESIDENTIAL GUARD WAS TO BE DISARMED.
FOLLOWING THE LOYALIST SURRENDER, REBEL SPOKESMAN ZAMORA INDUTO
TOLD PORTUGUESE TELEVISION THAT PRESIDENT VIERA'S GOVERNMENT WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR, IN HIS WORDS, "FLAGRANT" VIOLATIONS OF THE PEACE
ACCORD SIGNED LATE LAST YEAR IN NIGERIA. AMONG THE VIOLATIONS,
HE SAID, WAS A REFUSAL TO DISARM THE PRESIDENTIAL GUARD.
// OPT // HOWEVER, HE ADDED THE REBELS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN
HARMING MR. VIERA NOW THAT THE WAR IS OVER. // END OPT //
ASKED WHAT THE REBELS' PLANS WERE FOR THE COUNTRY, MR. INDUTO
SAID THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WOULD TAKE TEMPORARY
CONTROL OF THE PRESIDENCY, AND THE TRANSITION GOVERNMENT CREATED
EARLIER THIS YEAR WOULD STAY IN PLACE.
HE SAID THE ARMY -- MOST OF WHICH RALLIED TO THE REBELLION LAST
YEAR -- WOULD RETURN TO THE BARRACKS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. HE
SAID THE REBEL LEADER, FORMER ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ANSUMANE MANE,
HAD NO INTEREST IN HOLDING POWER. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/WTW
07-May-99 5:17 PM EDT (2117 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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