afrol News, 23 December - Agreement was today reached, after the former coup leaders and the São Toméan government yesterday accused each other of violating the July agreement that assured a civilian return to power. The Defence Minister had negotiated directly with the ex-rebel soldiers.

Oscar de Sousa, Defence Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, today announced that he had reached a peaceful solution to the row over the personal security of the soldiers that had led the short-lived coup on the archipelago on 16 July.

After refusing to turn in their arms during yesterday's army operation against the ex-junta, the former coup leaders today agreed to hand over three AK 47 weapons.

Arlécio Costa, leader of the ex-rebels and owner of the house that was ransacked by government soldiers yesterday, first had claimed that he and his colleagues were entitled to hold onto these weapons, according to the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the junta and the returning civilian government, ending the coup. Minister de Sousa revoked this.

After negotiations between Mr Costa and Defence Minister Sousa today, the two agreed that the heaviest arms were to be handed over to regular troops. Meanwhile, the armed forces assumed responsibility of the security of the members of the former junta and their soldiers.

Only yesterday, the situation was tense between the former junta and the civilian government. Minister Sousa accused Mr Costa of trying to organise a second coup and the ex-coup leaders accused São Toméan President Fradique de Menezes of breeching the agreement between the two parties.

According to Sabino dos Santos, spokesman of the opposition party Democratic Christian Front (FDC) - which was associated with the 16 July coup - the government of São Tomé and Príncipe is heading a "persecution and intimidation" campaign against the former coup leaders.

The political situation in São Tomé and Príncipe has been stable since the eight-day coup in July this year. President Fradique de Menezes and the government of national unity have not let the coup change their policy.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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