Assembly to vote on Vieira's fate

Meanwhile, Lusa reported that a decision on Vieira's fate was to be announced on Thursday. However, it said the discernible mood at Tuesday's meeting was that Vieira must stand trial before leaving the country. Lusa reported the Junta as saying it allowed Vieira to seek refuge in the Portuguese Embassy on condition that he be turned over for trial if Guinea
Bissau's current leaders so decided.

However, the agency quoted a Portuguese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that the Junta never made such demands on the government in Lisbon.

Forces calling for Vieira's trial said he must be made accountable for his alleged crimes against the country. Others said he should be allowed to go into exile in Portugal.

Sanha said the best thing for the country would be for Vieira to leave so that the international community would not turn its back on Guinea Bissau. For his part, Prime Minister Francisco Fadul said Vieira was politically dead and that the country had neither the time, money or patience to keep him. Mane, one of Vieira's comrades in arms during the liberation war, said there was no need to kill his personal friend against whom he
revolted.