Armed forces deny coup rumours

Authorities in Guinea-Bissau have denied rumours that sections of the military were preparing to overthrow the government, according to media and other sources in the capital, Bissau. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Verissimo Seabra held a press conference on Tuesday at which he denied allegations that a coup was under preparation and that alleged coup plotters had been arrested, a humanitarian source told IRIN. His presence at the news conference also served to dispel rumours that he had been killed, the source said on Wednesday. Seabra said the military continued to respect the country's democratic institutions. The rumours of a coup were also denied on Tuesday by Interior Minister Almara Ntchia Nhasse, AFP said. The rumours had added to the tension in Bissau, amid an ongoing tussle between President Kumba Yala and a section of the judiciary. On 25 September, judges began a 30-day strike in protest against the dismissal by Yala of members of the Supreme Court, including its president. A 10-day strike which public prosecutors staged in support of the judges ended on Wednesday, the humanitarian source said.