Alleged coup plotters to be pardoned

Guinea-Bissau's President Kumba Yala has proposed an amnesty for soldiers who were involved in reported coup attempts against his government in December 2001 and May, news agencies reported.

Yala, who said such an amnesty would promote national reconciliation, had requested parliament to pass a law to allow for the amnesty, PANA reported on Tuesday. He was quoted as saying the amnesty was "motivated by a desire to calm souls".

Addressing representatives of the international community and community leaders of Guinea's ethnic groups in the capital, Bissau, on Tuesday Yala said alleged coup plotters could now return home without fear, adding "they are also sons of Guinea-Bissau, despite the mistake they made," Lusa news service reported.

Diplomats, including a United Nations secretary-general's envoy, David Stephen, were played a tape recording of an alleged confession from a ring leader of plotters who reportedly wanted to seize government on 20 May.

The purported coup plotter, Fode Conte, said in the recording that he had been unhappy at the death of General Ansumane Mane killed in November, 2000 by government troops. Like Mane, Conte reportedly said, he was among the Mandinga people dismissed from the army with other of the Beafada tribe, Lusa said.

In April, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council that Guinea- Bissau had experienced a slight improvement in its political situation but some key issues remain unresolved.

The country experienced war, political tension and various internal crises in recent years including the December 2001 coup attempt against Yala. Tension between the military and Yala's government came to a head when former junta leader General Ansumane Mane in November 2000 tried to revoke army nominations issued by Yala.

Mane's "coup attempt", as the government described it, led to days of uprising between his supporters and government loyalists. Mane was killed on 30 November 2000 by loyalist forces.