AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - AFTER SUNDAY’S COUP BISHOP OF BISSAU APPOINTED HEAD OF NATIONAL TRANSITION COUNCIL: COMMENT FROM BISHOP’S HOUSE

Tuesday, 16 September 2003

Bissau (Fides Service) – “This is definitely recognition of the Church’s role in the past and in the present for peace in this country”, personnel at the Bishop’s Residence in Bissau say with regard to the appointment as head of the National Transition Council of Bishop Jose Camnate na Bissign of Bissau diocese. The Council will prepare the formation of a temporary government in view of forthcoming elections.
After the coup on Sunday 14 September the country is returning to normal. “Bissau airport is open and so are the land frontiers. Traffic on roads is normal” Fides Services sources say. Yesterday, 15 September the Junta composed of coup rebels led by army chief of staff General Verissimo Correia Scabre called a meeting with representatives of the opposition parties, religious communities, NGOs and trade unions. At the meeting it was decided to form a Council of Transition to prepare for the return of democracy and that the Council would be chaired by Bishop Camnate.
“The international community condemned the coup, but it realises that deposed president Kumba Yalla failed to respect democracy and postponed elections repeatedly. The military intervened to restore respect for legality in the country and they do not intend to keep power for long. So far they have kept their promises” Fides sources conclude. LM (Fides Service 16/9/2003 EM lines 22 Words: 258)


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