10 FEV 99 - 13:04
Guinea-Bissau: Accord Reached on Foreign Troop Withdrawal, Deployment of Peacekeepers
Lisbon, Feb. 10 (Lusa) - A joint military commission composed of loyalists, rebels and West African peacekeepers reached agreement late Tuesday on a calendar for the withdrawal from Guinea-Bissau of foreign troops backing President Nino Vieira.
A source close to the talks told Lusa the commission also agreed on plans for a frontline pullback of hostile troops, the deployment of the West African Ecomog interposition force and the formation of combined security forces.
The commission determined that 1,200 of the estimated 3,000 Senegalese and Guinea-Conakry soldiers backing Vieira would withdraw by Feb. 14, with the remainder leaving by Feb. 28, the source said.
"On the first sign of withdrawal," he added, a joint commission would oversee the formation of a "minimal joint military force" in tandem with the assembly and disarming of most loyalist and rebel troops.
The source estimated that, if there were "no major incidents," the country's police and armed forces could be reunited within two months.
Meanwhile, rebel armed forces spokesman Capt.-Lt. Zamora Induta told national radio agreement had also been reached on the deployment of the 400-strong Ecomog contingent already in Bissau to seven "sensitive points" along the frontline around the capital. Loyalist and rebel Military Junta troops would pull back between 250 meters and 500 meters at these locations, he said.
10 FEV 99 - 12:40
Guinea-Bissau: Portuguese Air Force Flies 10 Tons of Emergency Aid
Lisbon, Feb. 10 (Lusa) - A Portuguese air force Hercules C-130 cargo plane departed Wednesday for Guinea-Bissau, transporting 10 tons of emergency medical and food aid, officials said.
Provided by Portuguese aid organizations, the emergency supplies included medicines, surgical equipment, baby food and mineral water, defense ministry officials said.