Prime Minister files complaint against weekly

Prime Minister Francisco Fadul on Thursday filed a legal complaint against the weekly 'Banobero' newspaper in connection with an article it carried in its edition of 18 August, humanitarian sources in Bissau told IRIN. The article accused Fadul of misusing state funds during trips abroad, especially during a visit to Italy in March. Fadul has denied the accusation, calling it is baseless. The objective of the government was precisely to fight corruption, he said. The complaint comes at a time of heightened tension in Guinea Bissau, one source told IRIN. A former minister was murdered last week while there is now "a tussle between (Military Junta leader Ansumane) Mane and PAIGC politicians," the humanitarian source said. The source said Mane had reportedly been trying to get the former ruling Partido Africano para a Independencia de Guine Bissau e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) - to which he also belongs - to replace its leader, Saturnino da Costa, who is expected to be its presidential candidate. Mane's Military Junta overthrew President Joao Bernardo Vieira in May 1999 after launching a mutiny against him in June 1998. A transitional government is preparing presidential elections scheduled for November. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Abubakar Dahba left Bissau on Wednesday with a strong delegation from the Military Junta, including Armed Forces Chef of Staff Verisimo Correia, for Russia and Ukraine to discuss Guinea-Bissau's debt and military cooperation, the source said. Much of the weaponry used by both sides during the war between the Military Junta and Vieira loyalists came from Russia and Ukraine, the source said.