Rival troops return to barracks

Troops from the rival factions in Guinea Bissau have begun withdrawing from temporary quarters along their former front line around the capital and returning to their respective barracks, Lusa reported yesterday. The Portuguese news agency quoted a military source as saying that the withdrawal was aimed at earning “the trust of the people and the international community regarding the consolidation of the peace process”. A large section of the Guinea Bissau military rebelled last June against President Joao Bernardo Vieira. Vieira and the rebel Military Junta signed a peace accord in Abuja in November 1998, but fighting stopped only with a final ceasefire on 3 February. A government of national unity took office on 20 February. The pullout was decided by a joint military commission that includes representatives of the pro-Vieira forces and the Military Junta, and the West African ECOMOG peacekeeping force which is overseeing the peace process. Meanwhile, in a communique issued yesterday, Amnesty International accused both sides of committing abuses during the conflict, including arbitrary detentions, torture and summary executions.