Calm after Sao Tome coup
2003-07-17 12:57
Lisbon - A military coup on Wednesday in the tiny oil-rich West African island state of Sao Tome and Principe apparently caused little disturbance to the fabric of civilian life, with shops reportd reopened Thursday and people venturing out after a night-time curfew.
Military vehicles patrolled the capital Sao Tome after renegade soldiers ousted the government while President Fradique de Menezes was on a visit to Nigeria.
The Portuguese and US ambassadors were attempting to persuade the new rulers to release Prime Minister Maria das Neves and several other ministers, who remained in custody at a military barracks.
Portuguese ambassador Mario de Jesus Santos said the cabinet members were well treated. The insurgents earlier released several dozen MPs who had obeyed an order to report to police.
About 80 mainly Portuguese tourists were unable to leave the country after the mutineers took the airport. Portuguese reports said that it was expected to reopen this week, possibly within a few days.
The rebels headed by Major Fernando Pereira announced the establishment of a military junta due to "political instability and socio-economic problems" in the former Portuguese colony on Wednesday. They said the coup had not claimed victims or caused injuries.
Observers attributed the coup to soldiers' dissatisfaction over poor conditions, mounting criticism of the government over economic stagnation, and struggles for the control for the country's potential oil wealth.
Sao Tome and Principe is expecting to begin exploiting oil resources in the Gulf of Guinea jointly with Nigeria within four years.
Portugal and the Community of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries, the United States, the African Union, Nigeria and Mozambique condemned the coup. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA