23 OUT 98 - 14:35

Lisbon, Oct. 23 (Lusa) - A Portuguese government official denied Friday press reports saying Lisbon was preparing to grant asylum to embattled Guinea-Bissau President Nino Vieira.

Assistant Secretary for Communities Jose Lello told Lusa a local newspaper report that Lisbon and Paris were readying asylum for Vieira was false.

Lello, who is responsible for Portuguese emigrant communities, also said there were no immediate plans to evacuate the remaining Portuguese nationals from Bissau.

He acknowledged contingency plans were in place but added that "not one of the 150" Portuguese still in the West African country had requested evacuation.

After the conflict erupted in June, Lisbon organized the evacuation of more than 2,000 people from Bissau. - Lusa

23 OUT 98 - 12:49

Bissau, Oct. 23 (Lusa) - Only sporadic light weapons and bazooka fire could be heard beyond the outskirts of the Guinea-Bissau capital Friday morning but tensions hightened with rebel claims they had seized several interior towns.

After heavy shelling fell silent Thursday afternoon, rebel Military Junta leader Brig. Ansumane Mane met with European ambassadors and promised to observe the unilateral cease-fire ordered by President Nino Vieira Wednesday night.

However, Mane warned the ambassadors of Portugal, France and Sweden that he would launch a "demolishing offensive" against the city if Vieira used the cease-fire to reinforce his troops.

He said he was willing to accept Vieira's call for a face-to-face meeting but only after he had discussed the move with his insurgent leadership.

The rebels claimed Thursday that, since fighting erupted again Sunday, their forces had seized several major towns, including Bafata, Fulacunda, Gabu and Piche - spanning the small country from an area southeast of Bissau to the far east.

In neighboring Senegal, which is backing Vieira with troops, a private radio station reported that a ship sailed Wednesday for Bissau with Senegalese reinforcements of men and munitions. - Lusa

23 OUT 98 - 11:35

Lisbon, Oct. 23 (Lusa) - The executive secretary of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries said in Lisbon on Thursday he was ''very apprehensive'' about the military situation in Guinea-Bissau.

Speaking after a meeting of a permanent concerted action committtee of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, Marcolino Moco said his organisation would continue with its efforts to assists the warring sides in Guinea-Bissau in finding a peaceful solution to the current conflict. He also urged the Economic Community of West African States to continue with its own efforts to restore peace Guinea-Bissau.-Lusa

23 OUT 98 - 11:29

Bissau, Oct. 23 (Lusa) - A spokesman for Guinea-Bissau's rebellious Military Junta confirmed on Thursday the capture of the cities of Bafata and Gabu by its forces.

Zamora Induta said that the presence of foreign troops was the country's present ''fundamental question.'' The rebels' top demand is the withdrawal of Senegalese troops from Guinea-Bissau. The Senegalese forces have supported President ''Nino'' Vieira's government against the rebellion by most of his own army.

The rebel have also said they want more concessions than the government's unilateral ceasefire declaration before entering into proposed peace talks.-Lusa

23 OUT 98 - 11:27

Brussels, Oct. 23 (Lusa) - The European Union appealed in Brussels on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire in Guinea-Bissau.

The 15-nation union expressed ''deep concerned'' over the situation in Guinea-Bissau, urging the two warring sides to find a peaceful solution to the conflict within the framework of negotiations brokered by the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Economic Community of West African States.

Several other European countries, such as Cyprus, Norway and Iceland, supported the EU position on Guinea-Bissau.-Lusa

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