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UN Security Council strongly condemns coup in Guinea-Bissau

14 April 2012 00:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council on Friday expressed its strong condemnation of the forcible takeover of Guinea-Bissau’s government by members of the West African country’s military, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The members of the Security Council recall its press statement SC/10597 of 31 March 2012 and strongly condemn the forcible seizure of power from the legitimate government of Guinea-Bissau by some elements of its armed forces," said a press statement released by the council. "The members of the Security Council firmly denounce this incursion by the military into politics."

The coup was announced on the night of April 12 by members of the country’s military, which detained interim president Raimundo Pereira as well as former prime minister and current presidential candidate Carlos Gomes Junior.

In the statement, the council called for those who overthrew the government to release all officials they detained in the process, while ensuring the safety of these officials.

"The members of the Security Council note with profound regret that these events are occurring just prior to the launch of the campaign for the second round of the presidential election," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council demand the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the legitimate government to allow for the completion of the on-going electoral process including the legislative elections."

A run-off round of presidential elections is due to be held in Guinea-Bissau on April 19.

A note to correspondents from the UN spokesperson’s office on the topic of Guinea-Bissau released here on Friday said that the UN is "following reports of armed activities" in the country.

"The Secretariat is in close consultation on the matter with the special representative of the secretary-general to Guinea- Bissau and the United Nations team on the ground," the note said.