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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

COMOROS: Coup attempt foiled

JOHANNESBURG, 14 February 2003 (IRIN) - Comorian officials on Friday confirmed the arrest of a dozen soldiers and two local ministers linked to a failed coup aimed at overthrowing the fledgling union government of President Azali Assoumani.

Presidential spokesman Houmed M'Saidie told IRIN that Justice Minister for Grande Comoro Arbeouraouf Ahmed and Defence Minister Sheik Ali Bacar Cassim were arrested on Wednesday.

"According to our intelligence reports, the main objective of the group was to overthrow the national government. Part of their plan was also to kidnap some important government ministers including myself. The plot was to have been carried out on 9 February, but fortunately one of its leaders exposed the plan," said M'Saidie.

The accused were believed to be closely linked to the president of Grande Comoro island, but the island government has denied any involvement in the attempted coup.

"We have to some extent stepped up security around the president and government ministers. Our investigations are underway and should we uncover other individuals linked to the plot they will be arrested," M'Saidie added.

The current federal system of government gives substantial power to the islands. Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore govern most of their own affairs with their own presidents. Overall, Assoumani's union government in the capital Moroni controls defence, foreign affairs and economic policy.

Since the devolution process in June, Assoumani and Grand Comore President Abdou Soule Elbak have been at loggerheads over control of key government ministries.

Earlier a Comorian diplomat told IRIN the stand-off between the two leaders was about "economic control of the island".

"The situation on the island is calm but there are more soldiers than usual patrolling the streets in Moroni. The tensions between Elbak and Assoumani have been building over the last couple of months. We can expect more news of unrest in the future," local journalist Abubakar Omar told IRIN.

There have been 20 coups or attempted take-overs in the Comoros islands since independence from France in 1975.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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