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Detained politicians refuse to leave prison

[Somalia] Nishey Iman, 22, and her daughter prepare edible leaves for cooking on 3 December as food shortages worsen in south Somalia. [Date picture taken: 12/03/2005] John Nyaga/IRIN
Nishey Iman, 22, and her daughter prepare edible leaves for cooking on 3 December as food shortages worsen in south Somalia.
    NAIROBI

    Seven politicians detained by authorities in Guinea-Bissau on suspicion of complicity with or support for last week’s attempt by General Ansumane Mane to take over the military have refused to leave the central police station where they are being held, a humanitarian source told IRIN on Tuesday.

    The men were among eight opposition politicians whom President Kumba Yala had instructed the security forces to place under house arrest. They had originally been detained following the clashes between Mane supporters and soldiers loyal to the government.

    One of the detainees agreed to leave the police station but the others remained, saying they feared for their safety, according to the source. He said they included the leader of the former ruling Partido africano para a independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde, Francisco Benante. They also include the head of the Alianza socialista guineense, Fernando Gomes, who used to head the country’s human rights league.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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