Army officers say they took power in Guinea-Bissau, French radio reports
PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo via Reuters
BISSAU - A group of army officers said on Wednesday they had seized power in coup-prone Guinea-Bissau, Radio France Internationale reported, after gunfire was heard at key locations in the capital.
The army officers said they had formed "The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order" and would be in charge of the West African nation until further notice.
The move came one day before the electoral commission was due to announce provisional results from a hotly contested presidential election between incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and top challenger Fernando Dias.
Both sides have claimed victory in Sunday's first round.
The gunfire on Wednesday was heard near the electoral commission headquarters, presidential palace and interior ministry, witnesses said. It lasted for about an hour but appeared to have stopped by 1400 GMT, a Reuters journalist said.
(Reporting by Alberto DaboAdditional reporting and writing by Robbie Corey-BouletEditing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell and Frances Kerry // REUTERS)
