21 OUT 98 - 10:46

Bissau, Oct. 21 (Lusa) - The troubled government of Guinea-Bissau imposed on Tuesday a curfew between dusk and dawn for alleged "security reasons". The curfew began on Tuesday at 7:30 pm (local time).

Bissau has been the scene of heavy gunfire and artillery bombardents since Sunday.

The Community Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the "urgent resumption" of peace talks between the warring sides. Lusa/Fim

21 OUT 98 - 10:43

Dakar, Oct. 21 (Lusa) - The Senegalese military authorities said in Dakar on Tuesday that 53 rebels and seven Senegalese soldiers had died in Monday's combats in Bissau.

A communique issued by the Senagalese authorities blamed Guinea-Bissau's insurgent Military Junta for the casualties. The communique also accused the Guinea-Bissau's military rebel movement for collusion with Senegalese separatists in Casamance Province. Lusa/Fim

21 OUT 98 - 10:49

Maputo, Oct. 21 (Lusa) - The Mozambican government expressed in Maputo on Tuesday its "deep concern" over the recent flare-up of hostilities in Guinea-Bissau.

A communique issued by the foreign ministry urges the warring sides in Guinea-Bissau to cease immediately all fighting and return to the "path of peaceful negotiations".

The communique also appealed for "reconciliation in the bosom of the Guinea family." Lusa/Fim

22 OUT 98 - 13:11

Bissau, Oct. 22 (Lusa) - Automatic weapons and bazooka fire broke out early Thursday in the northern suburbs of the Guinea-Bissau capital, despite a unilateral cease-fire decreed Wednesday night by President Nino Vieira.

It was not immediately clear what had provoked the renewed fighting between government and rebel forces after the first night of relative calm in the city since Saturday.

Up to 8:30 A.M., however, there were no reports of artillery bombardments, which had characterized combats until Vieira's cease-fire announcenment. - Lusa

22 OUT 98 - 11:10

Bissau, Oct. 22 (Lusa) - The president of Guinea-Bissau, ''Nino'' Vieira, ordered on Wednesday night a unilateral ceasefire of his government forces.

The ceasefire began at 10 pm (local time). The president made the announcement in a national radio address, in which he said he was ready to meet rebel leader Brig. Ansumane Mane'' at any time.'' It was the first time since the military rebellion erupted on 7 June that Vieira expressed his willingness to meet Brig. Mane. Brig. Mane announced on Wednesday his forces had captures Bafata, Guinea-Bissau's second city.

Bafata is about 150 kilometres east of the capital, Bissau. At least 71 rebels and Senegalese troops assisting troops loyal to President Vieira were killed in the several days of fighting in Guinea-Bissau before Wednesday night's unilateral ceasefire announced by President Vieira, according to Senegalese army reports.

Fighting erupted in Guinea-Bissau on 7 June, when a rebel military faction seized Bissau's main army barracks and international airport, accusing Vieira of corruption and demanding that he step down. The government and insurgents led by Brig. Mane agreed to a 26 July ceasefire, which ended almost two months of having fighting in the former Portuguese oversease province.

The original ceasefire has been sporadically violated namely renewed combats earlier this week.

Heavy fighting raged Bissau and other parts of the tiny western African nation between Monday and Wednesday. The two warring sides had been about to sign a pact establishing a ''buffer zone'' between the front lines in the northern part of Bissau on Tuesday. The government declared a curfew overnight for ''security reasons'' on Tuesday.-Lusa

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