Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations on Sunday strongly condemned an armed attack on the presidential residence of Guinea-Bissau, while urging the African country's military to refrain from any measures that could further destabilize the situation.
"The secretary-general strongly condemns the armed attack early in the morning of Nov. 23 on President Bernardo Joao Vieira's official residence in Bissau," Ban's press office said in a statement.
"The secretary-general has noted with great concern reports of the alleged involvement of elements of the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau in the attack, and calls upon them to refrain from any measures that could further destabilize the country," the statement said.
A group of gunmen fired at the presidential residence after midnight on Saturday. Witnesses in Bissau heard explosions of artillery and rockets. The latest report said Vieira survived the attack by renegade soldiers who fled the scene after hours of shoot-out with Vieira's guards. The presidential residence was partly damaged in the fighting.
At least one presidential bodyguard was killed and several others wounded in the exchange of fire. The authorities arrested several suspects of mutiny.
The UN chief urged the authorities to restore law and order and to "conduct a thorough investigation with a view to ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights," the statement said.
"The secretary-general believes that this destructive pattern of instability and disrespect for the democratic institutions of this country must come to an end," the statement said.
It said Ban's representative in Guinea-Bissau, Shola Omoregie, is working closely with national authorities, regional leaders and other partners to help stabilize the country.
Source: Xinhua
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