AU Condemns Assassination of President Vieira

(APA)--The African Union (AU) Commission on Monday condemned the assassination of the President of Guinea Bissau, João Bernardo ‘Nino’ Vieira, and that of his Army Chief of Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Wai.

‘The chairperson condemns in the strongest terms these cowardly and heinous attacks, which have come at a time of renewed efforts by the international community to support peace-building efforts in Guinea Bissau and consolidate progress in the political process in that country in the wake of the legislative elections of November 2008,’ said an AU statement issued in Addis Ababa.

The chairperson calls on all Bissau-Guinean political leaders and stakeholders to rally behind the legitimate authorities of the country, in order to address the current crisis within the framework of the legitimate institutions and the constitution of the country. Ping further reiterates the AU’s commitment to the Lomé Declaration and all other AU instruments relating to unconstitutional changes of government, and the total rejection of any attempt at unconstitutional changes of government.

The chairperson has also initiated contact with regional leaders on how best to address the current situation in that country. APA learns here that consultations are also underway to convene an emergency meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), to review the situation and to take appropriate steps to address the situation.

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