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Ministers held after Sao Tome coup freed under accord
Sao Tome, July 21: Seven ministers and a legal adviser detained since a coup on Wednesday in Sao Tome and Principe returned home late last night under an accord between international mediators and the military junta.
Sao Tome, July 21: Seven ministers and a legal adviser detained since a coup on Wednesday in Sao Tome and Principe returned home late last night under an accord between
international mediators and the military junta.
They were taken by their families from military headquarters here after a day of negotiations.
"The release of the political figures held at the (armed forces) headquarters will take place on July 20, 2003," said a 'memorandum on the liberation of political figures'.
These people "will not be automatically returned to power before the end of the negotiations and the signing of a final agreement," the memorandum said and added that they "cannot exert any pressure" that might alter the "balance" and "transparency" of the ongoing talks.
As was the case for women ministers freed previously, these figures would be placed under military surveillance at their homes, the memorandum said.
The negotiations between the international mediators and the military leaders headed by junta chief Major Fernando Pereira had started last morning at United Nations headquarters in Sao Tome.
The mediators, from several Portuguese-speaking and African countries, were seeking a return to legality in Sao Tome, where the Army rebels took over the government while President Fradique de Menezes was in Nigeria.
The talks took place under the auspices of the African Union, which has expressed its determination to end military takeovers and civil wars in Africa.
Bureau Report
"The release of the political figures held at the (armed forces) headquarters will take place on July 20, 2003," said a 'memorandum on the liberation of political figures'.
These people "will not be automatically returned to power before the end of the negotiations and the signing of a final agreement," the memorandum said and added that they "cannot exert any pressure" that might alter the "balance" and "transparency" of the ongoing talks.
As was the case for women ministers freed previously, these figures would be placed under military surveillance at their homes, the memorandum said.
The negotiations between the international mediators and the military leaders headed by junta chief Major Fernando Pereira had started last morning at United Nations headquarters in Sao Tome.
The mediators, from several Portuguese-speaking and African countries, were seeking a return to legality in Sao Tome, where the Army rebels took over the government while President Fradique de Menezes was in Nigeria.
The talks took place under the auspices of the African Union, which has expressed its determination to end military takeovers and civil wars in Africa.
Bureau Report