Guinea-Bissau president shot dead
Summary
3 March 2009
The president of Guinea Bissau, Nino Vieira, has been killed by the military. His residence came under attack hours after the head of the armed forces was killed.
Reporter:
Will Ross
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Report
A military spokesman told the French news agency that President Nino Vieira was killed by the army as he tried to flee his house. There was heavy gunfire around the presidential palace during the night. A few hours earlier the head of the armed forces, General Tagme Na Waie was killed when a bomb exploded in the military headquarters.
The army spokesman suggested that the president had been behind the death of General Tagme Na Waie, and that is why he was then killed. There is however, no further confirmation of his death.
Guinea Bissau has a history of coups and unrest. Last November, President Vieira narrowly escaped when soldiers attacked his house and in January the head of the armed forces also survived what appeared to be an attempt on his life.
Guinea Bissau's fragility is down to the fact that its presidents have all been propped up by the military. President Vieira has been in power twice, he was ousted in 1999 after he had sacked the army commander.
Will Ross, 大象传媒 News, Accra
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Vocabulary
- to flee
- to escape from
- presidential palace
- large official home of the president
- military headquarters
- main offices of the army
- had been behind
- had been responsible for
- no further confirmation
- no additional evidence that it is certain or true
- narrowly escaped
- got away, but only just
- an attempt on his life
- the act of someone trying to kill him
- fragility
- easily damaged or weak
- propped up by
- helped to exist in difficult circumstances
- ousted
- forced to leave a job or place of power
