Cameroon leader sacks police chief

2010-09-01 18:00

Yaounde - Cameroon's President Paul Biya sacked a top police chief and the head of internal security in decrees quoted Wednesday, just over a month after rumours of an attempted coup in the capital.

State-run daily newspaper Cameroon Tribune reported that Biya named Martin Mbarga Nguele as the new police chief, replacing Emmanuel Edou, who was promoted to the position during a cabinet reshuffle in July 2009.

Eko Eko Leopold Maxine was appointed head of the DGRE intelligence agency, replacing previous chief Jean Marie Obelabout.

No reason was given for the changes, but local newspaper Le Jour speculated on Wednesday that the president is beefing up his security after a rumoured July plot against him, during his Paris trip for French national day celebrations.

Daily newspaper Mutations said Obelabout's role in the arrest of journalist Bibi Ngota, who died in a central Yaounde prison in April after allegedly being tortured at DGRE headquarters, contributed to his dismissal.

- SAPA