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Guinea-Bissau to bury president Guinea-Bissau president is buried
(about 14 hours later)
The state funeral is due to take place former President of Guinea Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira. The state funeral has taken place of the former President of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira.
He was assassinated a week ago by soldiers, just hours after the head of the country's military was killed in a bomb attack. Mr Vieira, in power for more than two decades, was assassinated a week ago by soldiers, hours after the military chief was killed in a bomb attack.
Not a single international head of state attended the service.
During the service, Mr Vieira's tearful daughter Elisa begged the thousands of her compatriots in attendance to "stop killing ourselves".
The West African state has long been unstable and has been made increasingly fragile owing to the fact that it has become a major drug trafficking hub.The West African state has long been unstable and has been made increasingly fragile owing to the fact that it has become a major drug trafficking hub.
The country has remained relatively calm since the murders.The country has remained relatively calm since the murders.
The region is relieved there has not been a power struggle within the military. However, ethnic divisions within the army are of concern.
The fact that only the presidents of Senegal and Sao Tome have confirmed their attendance at this state funeral points to a degree of nervousness around West Africa.
Slow investigationSlow investigation
Before the burial in Bissau's cemetery there will be a military guard of honour for Mr Vieira and soldiers will fire a 21-gun salute. The region is relieved there has not been a power struggle within the military, says the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7920033.stm">Haunted by history of crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7918462.stm">Obituary: President Vieira
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7920033.stm">Haunted by history of crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7918462.stm">Obituary: President Vieira However, ethnic divisions within the army are of concern.
The tribute might seem a little perverse considering the president was assassinated by members of the army. Before the burial in Bissau's cemetery there was a military guard of honour for Mr Vieira and soldiers fired a 21-gun salute.
The military was quick to distance itself from his death, blaming it on dissident soldiers in retaliation for the killing of the head of the armed forces, General Tagme Na Waie. The tribute seemed a little perverse considering the president was assassinated by members of the army, our correspondent adds.
An investigation was promised but it has been slow to start. The fact that the bloodstained home of the former president was not even cordoned off does not exactly point to a serious inquiry. The military was quick to distance itself from his death, blaming it on dissident soldiers in retaliation for the killing of the head of the armed forces, Gen Tagme Na Waie.
The Speaker of parliament, Raimundo Pereira, is now the interim leader of Guinea Bissau and he has the task of organising elections within the next two months. An investigation was promised but it has been slow to start.
Meanwhile civil society groups have warned that some politicians are encouraging the military to take over power. The fact that the bloodstained home of the former president was not even cordoned off does not exactly point to a serious inquiry, our correspondent says.
The speaker of parliament, Raimundo Pereira, is now the interim leader of Guinea-Bissau and he has the task of organising elections within the next two months.
Meanwhile, civil society groups have warned that some politicians are encouraging the military to take over power.