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Junta in talks with Portugal over Vieira

    ABIDJAN
    Representatives of Guinea Bissau's Military Junta and Portuguese officials began talks on Monday on the fate of deposed Guinea Bissau President Joao Bernardo Vieira, Lusa reported. The Junta's four-member delegation met with Portuguese Defence Minister Jose Viega Simao to discuss Vieira's asylum, granted by Lisbon, and the Junta's demand that he be handed over for trial. Vieira sought refuge in the Portuguese Embassy in Bissau after his ouster on 7 May. Guinea Bissau's new rulers say they want him tried in connection with the smuggling of arms to Casamance rebels in Southern Senegal and other crimes against the state, according to news reports. Junta spokesman Zamora Induta told reporters before boarding a Portuguese air force jet for Lisbon that although the new rulers wanted Vieira tried, he might be allowed to go into exile for "health or other reasons", Lusa said.

    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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