afrol News, 3 March - The West African bloc has sent a delegation to Guinea-Bissau to engage all Guinean stakeholders in an effort to restore constitutional normalcy and boost confidence among political actors, civil society and security services.

The chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has expressed concern over the double murder of President Joao Bernardo Vieira and his chief of staff, General Batista Tagme Na Wai.

He has further urged Bissau's armed forces and other security agencies to desist from any further action that could drag the country back to lawlessness and political instability.

Reports from Bissau said armed forces had last night called on a curfew in the city, with only the army officers roaming the empty streets.

ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the West African body, the African Union and the international community would not accept any attempt by the Guinea-Bissau military to seize power.

He cast aside any notion that developments in Guinea and now Guinea-Bissau could be an indication that West Africa could be moving away from the path to democracy.

President Joao Bernardo Vieira, is believed to have been killed in retaliation, having been accused of being behind the ploy of the explosive that killed the army chief of staff on Sunday. The president was killed together with his driver when he allegedly tried to escape from the presidential palace on Monday morning.

Mr Vieira, 69, came to power in a military coup in 1980 before overthrown in the 1998-1999 civil war after ruling the country for 19 years. He returned to power in 2005 after winning the presidential election.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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