Comoros coup foiled
2001-11-04 16:24
Mutsamudu, Comoros - A coup attempt in the breakaway Comoran island of Anjouan has been foiled and its mastermind, former leader Lieutenant-Colonel Said Abeid Abderemane has fled, a military source said on Sunday.
An unnamed military source announced on Radio Anjouan that "the
army and loyalist forces are in control of the situation", after
the attempted putsch by Abeid, who was leader of Anjouan until
three months ago.
Abeid had announced his return to power on Saturday after
claiming to have deposed Major Mohamed Bacar who ousted him in
August.
As Abeid read out his statement on Radio Anjouan, witnesses told
AFP by phone that the station was surrounded by Bacar's supporters who were said to have exchanged fire with Abeid's backers inside the station. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA