Ministers still not at posts

Ministers in Guinea Bissau’s newly installed and transitional government of national unity had still not occupied their posts yesterday because of the continued presence of Guinean and Senegalese troops in the country, news reports said today. Lusa reported that Guinea Bissau Prime Minister Francisco Fadul was today due to present to President Joao Bernardo Vieira, a detailed report on an incident in which Senegalese troops prevented two ministers from visiting government installations. Finance and Economy Minister Abubacar Dahba and Internal Administration Minister Caetano Intychama said they were stopped from entering the offices of the information and youth and sports departments. The incident on Monday has left members of the national unity government uneasy, Lusa said quoting a government source. Vieira appealed publicly on Monday for the ministers to begin work. Vieira called for Guinean and Senegalese troops in June 1998, to put down a revolt by some 90 percent of the Guinea-Bissau armed forces. Under a peace accord signed in November of that year, all Senegalese and Guinean troops are to withdraw by 28 February 1999. The government source told Lusa that Fadul was also expected to meet with his predecessor, Carlos Correia, to receive government portfolios. Fadul took charge of a transitional cabinet on Saturday but still maintains his headquarters at a bunker near the city’s airport which is controlled by the anti-Vieira self-styled Military Junta.