Guinea-Bissau junta sacks senior officer close to ousted president Embaló

The leader of Guinea-Bissau's military authorities, General Ahontan Tam, has dismissed an army officer close to ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. Lieutenant General Saji Fati was a former defense minister and military advisor under Embaló. He headed the presidential civil office at the palace, but according to a decree seen Wednesday by AFP, he has been dismissed with immediate effect. His firing was just the latest involving personnel serving in defense and the security forces since the fall of Embaló. who is now in exile in Morocco. Many members of his presidential guard and most officers close to him are being removed from positions of influence. Interior Minister General Mamadaliu Embaló and Fisheries Minister Maria da Cruz Correa were also recently dismissed by the junta. Guinea-Bissau's military authorities, led by Ahontan Tam, took power in a coup in November 2005. They overthrew Embaló and suspended the electoral process just before the announcement of provisional presidential and legislative election results. The Junta is supposed to organize a new poll in December to allow for a return to civilian rule. But the National Electoral Commission said last week that the conditions are not in place to hold elections.