Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting

Portugal, France and Sweden are engaged in diplomatic efforts to try and end the fighting, now in its third day, a diplomatic source in Lisbon told IRIN today. He said efforts were underway to negotiate a ceasefire. Representatives of the three countries in Guinea Bissau had asked to be received by President Vieira. The Portuguese news agency, Lusa, reported that the French ambassador to Guinea Bissau, Francois Chappellet, met Vieira yesterday.

Guinea Bissau Prime Minister-designate Francisco Fadul told Portuguese Renascenca radio today he wanted Portugal to shed its “former colonial power complexes and decide once and for all to give Guinea Bissau and its Guinean brothers, the support which they deserve”.

Fadul added he was willing to meet Vieira “whenever, however and wherever he wants” to resolve the fighting. Fadul also said that as head of the government, he was ready to hold talks with all organisations and states which supported political normalisation in the country. However, they must accept the government’s demand that Guinean and Senegalese troops leave the country, that Guinea Bissau’s armed forces take responsibility for defence and that outside forces may not enter without the authorisation of the National Assembly.