France accused of shelling anti-government forces

Guinea Bissau Prime Minister-designate Francisco Fadul today accused the French navy of shelling anti-government forces trying to topple President Joao Bernardo Vieira, a claim rejected by France. Speaking on Portuguese Renascenca radio, Fadul, a political ally of the Military Junta opposed to Vieira, said that “hundreds of civilians, not to say thousands” had told him they had seen about 300 French soldiers asking the way to Antula, an area of the city controlled by loyalist forces. The missionary news agency, MISNA, reported that some French soldiers had been killed and wounded in the fighting near the Hotti Hotel (formerly the Sheraton Hotel) in Bissau’s Bairro de Ajuda area. Renascenca radio, monitored by BBC, said the shelling was confirmed by Father Abraao of Bissau diocese. However, French diplomats in Dakar denied French involvement in the fighting. They told IRIN Fadul’s accusations “are untrue”. Thierry O’Neal, the commander of the French warship, Le Siroco, which arrived off Guinea Bissau waters with nearly 300 ECOMOG troops on board, has also denied shelling Guinea Bissau. Meanwhile, O’Neal suspended the landing of the ECOMOG interposition troops in Bissau because of continued heavy fighting in the capital. However, he told Reuters yesterday that four of the ship’s helicopters were ferrying people to the ship. He did not say who these people were.