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Guinea-Bissau's president resigns

Thousands of citizens cheer at a rally in support of the new regime in Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Guinea-Bissau's elected leader formally ceded power on Wednesday before the eyes of West African envoys, who couldn't coax the military junta into giving up control it grabbed three days before in a bloodless coup.

Cheering crowds marched in the capital of this impoverished coastal West African country to celebrate President Kumba Yala's overthrow. He had become deeply unpopular in his four years in office, presiding over a government so poor it cannot pay its own civil servants.

Foreign ministers of six West African nations gathered in his tin-roof, single-story private home to watch him sign the document surrendering authority. Yala is being held there under house arrest and is not free to move or speak freely.

Looking sad and solemn, Yala taped a departure speech, urging new elections and calling on the military to stay out of a transition government expected to be set up soon.

The junta broadcast the nine-point speech only hours later on state radio. In it, Yala said he "salutes" the military for having avoided violence during the coup. He said he gave up his post in the interest of peace.

"In the name of national unity, and in the interest of resolving our problems peacefully, I've decided to resign from my position as president of the republic," Yala said. "I accept that the situation was not so good."

The West African delegation, which included foreign ministers from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Gambia and Cape Verde, issued a statement saying a civilian government would be formed.

"We believe the right thing has been done to put this country forward to a constitutional government," Nigerian Foreign Minister Saidu Samaila said, as the envoys left to show the statement to Guinea-Bissau's new military leaders.

But General Verissimo Correia Seabra, who led the coup and has declared himself president, said in an interview at his military barracks that he would oversee the new government until elections are held.

"We will give back power to the civilian people," Seabra said, smoking cigarettes and sitting on a green vinyl couch in his office, with a framed picture of Yala still on the wall over his desk.
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