21 JAN 99 - 00:02

Guinea-Bissau: ECOWAS Guarantees Dispatch of Peacekeeping Force

Bissau, Jan. 20 (Lusa) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has informed Guinea-Bissau's rebel Military Junta that it is willing to deploy a 600-man peacekeeping contingent by the end of January, but only if Guinea-Bissau's transitional "national unity" government take office beforehand.

A rebel command source told Lusa that ECOWAS wanted the new government headed by prime minister-designate Francisco Fadul sworn in before the end of the week.

By late Wednesday Military Junta leaders had yet to announce their reaction to the ECOWAS decision.

Under the terms of the Nov. 2 Abuja accord the so-called Ecomog force is to replace troops from Senegal and Guinea-Conakry that backed president Nino Vieira during a five-month long military rebellion led by Brigadier Ansumane Mane.

The Military Junta has insisted that all foreign troops be withdrawn before the "national unity" government takes office and on Saturday gave ECOWAS a one week deadline to confirm the dispatch of the peacekeepers. -Lusa

21 JAN 99 - 18:47

Guinea-Bissau: Opposition Parties Criticize French Interference

Bissau, Jan. 21 (Lusa) - Two opposition parties have denounced French interference in the internal affairs of Guinea-Bissau.

In a communique released Thursday, the Guinea-Bissau Resistance\Bafata Movement (RGB\MB) and the Union for Change (UM), both with seats in Guinea-Bissau's parliament, criticized the "increasing (French) presence and movement of military forces" in the Bissau region and the off-shore Bijagos Islands.

The two parties say there is a risk of "internationalizing the conflict" either through direct external intervention or through Senegal.

Troops from Senegal and Guinea-Conakry helped President Nino Vieira face down a five-month long military rebellion that ended on Nov. 2, with the signing of the Abuja accord.

The RGB\MB and the UM also reiterated their support for the rebel Military Junta, which has refused to allow the interim "national unity" government to take office until the complete withdrawal of the foreign troops backing Vieira.

21 JAN 99 - 19:19

Guinea-Bissau: Elections Impossible By March, Says Elections Commissioner

Bissau, Jan. 21 (Lusa) - The head of Guinea-Bissau's National Elections Commission said Thursday it would be impossible to hold legislative and presidential elections in March, as stipulated by the Nov. 2 Abuja accord.

Higino Cardoso said the delay was due to "technical and legal problems", adding that President Nino Vieiro had yet to set a date for the elections, which have to be scheduled at least 90 days beforehand.

The Abuja accord put an end to a five month long military mutiny against Vieira. An interim "national unity" government has been blocked from taking office by the rebel Military Junta, which insists on the previous withdrawal of all foreign troops backing Vieira. -Lusa

21 JAN 99 - 20:00

Guinea-Bissau: 1450-Man Force Enough to Maintain Peace - ECOWAS Executive Secretary

Dakar, Jan. 21 (Lusa) - The executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Lansana Kouyate of Guinea-Conakry, has stated that a peacekeeping force of 1,450 men should be enough to maintain peace in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal's independent "Wal Fadjiri" newspaper reported in its Thursday edition. The so-called Ecomog force will be made up of forces from Benin, Gambia, Niger and Togo.

Kouyate also confirmed that the Ecomog force's Nigerian commander, general Timothy Shelpidi, had recently defended deployment of at least two thousand peacekeepers, with another three thousand on standby to monitor elections. Shelpidi reportedly scaled down his request after observing the on-the-ground cooperation provided by the rival factions in Guinea-Bissau.

Under the terms of the Nov. 2 Abuja accord, the Ecomog force will replace Senegalese and Guinea-Conakry troops backing Guinea-Bissau president Nino Vieira. -Lusa

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