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Former minister found dead

A former minister in the government of deposed president Nino Vieira was found dead in his home in Bissau on Sunday, a humanitarian source told IRIN on Monday from the Guinea-Bissau capital. Nicanda Barreto was found dead naked and gagged, with signs of blows on his body, the source said. His death, which some sectors in Bissau regard as a political killing, "has already created a general panic among the political class that could have a negative impact on the peace process", the source added. Barreto held various posts, including those of attorney-general, minister of justice and home affairs minister, under former president Nino Vieira, ousted on 7 May by a Military Junta which had mutinied against him 11 months before. An investigation has been ordered into the cause of his death, the source 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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