Shooting reported in Bissau

Shooting broke out on Thursday morning in the capital of Guinea-Bissau, news organisations reported. Radiodifusiao Portuguesa (RDP), a Portuguese radio station, said shots from automatic weapons and bazookas could be heard from about 0500 GMT. Publico, a newspaper in Lisbon, said in its online edition that there were explosions in Bissau’s city centre. ‘Publico’ said there had also been a shoot-out on Wednesday evening outside the home of Maj-gen Verissimo Correia Seabra, who was sacked as chief of staff of the armed forces by former military ruler General Ansumane Mane. The shoot-out was between forces loyal to the two men. Mane had placed Seabra under house arrest and appointed General Buota Nan Batcha to replace him, after revoking promotions awarded by President Kumba Yala. Mane also proclaimed himself supreme chief of the armed forces. His moves were condemned by Guinea-Bissau’s government, which asked him on Tuesday to respect the constitution and its institutions. The UN Security Council said on Tuesday that it would hold Mane responsible if his action led to further unrest and chaos. It urged him to start dialogue with the government on the basis of the country’s constitutional order.