When opposition moves to sideline his minority-based government from power in Guinea-Bissau, Carlos Gomes Junior said Monday that he does not intend to stand down as prime minister.

According to reports reaching here on Tuesday, after a meeting with President Nino Vieira, Gomes Jr. told media that the Guinean leader had requested the encounter to express "concern" at the present political situation in Bissau.

The reports said, on weekend, Guinea's main opposition parties and dissidents from the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) created an umbrella organization, the Convergence Forum for Development, aimed to oust Gomes Jr's cabinet and form a new, majority-based government.

The former prime minister and leader of the second biggest opposition United Social Democratic Party (PUSD), Francisco Fadul said the forum's prime concern was to bring down Gomes Jr.'s 17- month-old cabinet "legally" in Parliament and substitute it with a stable government of "broad consensus".

Gomes Jr. said he had analyzed the recent developments in Parliament with Vieira and both leaders agreed that the challenge to the PAIGC executive's rule was "a situation not in the interests of the country at the moment".

He added that he had underscored to Vieira continuity of government in Bissau is essential in coming months to ensure relaunched donor aid. Separate visits by delegations of the World Bank and IMF are also taking place this week, Gomes Jr. reminded the president.

Source: Xinhua