Guinea-Bissau's new PM promises to form gov't of reconciliation

Guinea-Bissau's new Prime Minister Aristides Gomes has pledged to work for national reconciliation and to form a new government in the next few days, according to reports reaching here on Thursday.

Gomes, only hours after being sworn in as head of government by President Joao Bernardo Vieira on Wednesday night, promised to get to work immediately to revive the country's administration, largely paralyzed since July by post-presidential election's political feuding, and to seek national reconciliation.

According to politics sources, Gomes was expected to announce the composition of his government Thursday or Friday, and the new cabinet will likely be drawn from among the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) dissidents, like the new prime ministers himself, and the Social Renovation Party (PRS) and United Social Democratic Party (PUSD), forces that opposed the outgoing government and backed Vieira's successful presidential bid.

Sources of PAIGC told media that Aristides Gomes' predecessor, Carlos Gomes Junior, who was sacked by Vieira, would give a news conference in Bissau this week.

Aristides Gomes was nominated by the president as Bissau's new government chief in an effort to defuse a crisis created by months of feuding between former prime minister Gomes Jr. and Vieira.

Gomes, a former PAIGC vice president before being suspended in May for actively backing Vieira's presidency bid against the ruling party's runner, was the architect of Vieira's successful reelection campaign in July and was seen by most observers as a firm ally of Vieira.

He had been parliamentary leader of the PAIGC and a staunch supporter of Gomes Jr. and his cabinet until former military ruler Vieira's return to Guinea earlier this year from a six-year exile in Portugal.

Source: Xinhua