"A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau have claimed total control of the country, a day after the top candidates in a tightly contested presidential election both declared victory. The officers released a statement on Wednesday declaring that they had ordered the immediate suspension of the electoral process; the closure of all land, air and sea borders, and an overnight curfew until further notice."
"The move came shortly after sustained gunfire was heard near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace and the interior ministry in the capital, Bissau. The results of Sunday's presidential vote were expected to be announced on Thursday in the West African nation. The vote had pit incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo against his primary challenger Fernando Dias. Reporting from neighbouring Senegal on Wednesday, Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque said Embalo's whereabouts were not immediately clear after the military officers' statement."
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau declared they had taken total control and ordered the immediate suspension of the electoral process. They announced the closure of all land, air and sea borders and imposed an overnight curfew until further notice. Sustained gunfire was reported near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace and the interior ministry in Bissau. Presidential vote results were expected the following day after a tightly contested election between incumbent Umaro Sissoco Embalo and challenger Fernando Dias. Embalo's whereabouts were not immediately clear while the presidential palace remained heavily guarded. The election's legitimacy was questioned after the PAIGC was barred from running a presidential candidate.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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