19 april 2012 11:16:04
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an extra-ordinary summit in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, on 26 April to deliberate on developments in two of its member states where soldiers have seized power within the past month, PANA reported Thursday.
In Guinea Bissau, soldiers have truncated the electoral process by seizing power and arresting key political officials, including Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, the front runner in the presidential runoff that had been scheduled for 29 April.
The runoff was called following the death in January of President Bacai Sanha.
On Wednesday, the junta in Bissau dug in by announcing that it would take two years to restore democratic rule, dealing a blow to efforts by the regional bloc to ensure a quick return to constitutional order.
In Mali, where renegade troops also shot their way to power 22 March, a deal brokered by ECOWAS to return the country to constitutional rule is being threatened by the arrest of key political leaders.
The arrests have dampened hopes that were raised by the appointment of Mr. Dioncounda Traore as interim President and his decision to nominate Mr. Cheick Modibo Diarra as the interim Prime Minister. -0- PANA SEG 19April2012
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