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Guinea-Bissau army chief 'killed' Guinea Bissau leader 'attacked'
(about 8 hours later)
The chief of staff of Guinea-Bissau's armed forces has been killed in an attack on the military's headquarters in the capital Bissau, reports say. Gunfire has erupted around the presidential palace in the West African state of Guinea Bissau, after the army chief of staff died in a bomb attack.
General Batista Tagme Na Wai reportedly died after a blast late on Sunday that destroyed part of the building.General Batista Tagme Na Wai reportedly died after a blast late on Sunday that destroyed part of the building.
At least five people were hurt in the attack, which one report described as a grenade strike and another as a bomb. It is not clear if a coup is under way, and the whereabouts of President Joao Bernardo Vieira are unknown.
Guinea-Bissau, in western Africa, is one of the world's poorest states, and has a history of coups. Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest states. It has a history of coups and is a drug trafficking centre.
An aide to the general, Lt Col Bwam Nhamtchio, told the AFP news agency the chief of staff was in his office when the blast went off. An army spokesman told the AFP news agency that the president had been killed.
"He was gravely wounded and did not survive his injuries. This is a loss for all of us," Lt Col Nhamtchio said. "President Vieira was killed by the army as he tried to flee his house which was being attacked by a group of soldiers close to the head of the chief of staff Tagme Na Waie, early this morning," said Zamora Induta.
He accused Mr Vieira of being responsible for the death of the army chief of staff.
Renegade soldiers last November attacked the presidential palace with automatic weapons in a failed coup attempt.
Revenge
An aide to General Tagme, Lt Col Bwam Nhamtchio, told AFP the chief of staff was in his office when Sunday's blast went off.
"He was gravely wounded and did not survive his injuries. This is a loss for all of us," Lt Col Nhamtchio said.President Vieira has ruled intermittently since 1980
State radio has confirmed that General Tagme's death.
At least five people were reportedly killed in the explosion.
Following the attack on the military HQ, officers ordered two private radio stations in the city to cease broadcasting.Following the attack on the military HQ, officers ordered two private radio stations in the city to cease broadcasting.
"For the security of the journalists, you must close the radio station and stop broadcasting. It's for your own safety," armed forces spokesman Samuel Fernandes told reporters at one station."For the security of the journalists, you must close the radio station and stop broadcasting. It's for your own safety," armed forces spokesman Samuel Fernandes told reporters at one station.
"We are going to pursue the attackers and avenge ourselves," he added."We are going to pursue the attackers and avenge ourselves," he added.
Plagued by coupsPlagued by coups
It is not yet clear who was behind the attack but it once again highlights the country's fragility, the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says.It is not yet clear who was behind the attack but it once again highlights the country's fragility, the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says.
In November, President Joao Bernardo Vieira survived a gun attack on his home by mutinous soldiers in what appeared to have been a failed coup. After last November's attack, the president was subsequently given his own militia for protection.
The president survived and was then given his own militia for protection.
In January, that militia was accused of trying to kill the head of the army and was then disbanded.In January, that militia was accused of trying to kill the head of the army and was then disbanded.
Guinea-Bissau has been plagued by coups and political unrest after it gained independence from Portugal in 1974. Guinea-Bissau has been plagued by coups and political unrest since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.
President Vieira, just like the country's previous leaders, has relied on the army to stay in power, and personal rifts have made it a rocky relationship, our correspondent says.President Vieira, just like the country's previous leaders, has relied on the army to stay in power, and personal rifts have made it a rocky relationship, our correspondent says.
Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for South American cocaine headed for Europe - has also been destabilised by the effects of drug trafficking. Guinea-Bissau - a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe - has also been destabilised by the effects of drug trafficking.
Some officials in the army are known to have become involved in the trade, our correspondent adds.Some officials in the army are known to have become involved in the trade, our correspondent adds.