BISSAU, Nov 21 (AFP) - Guinea Bissau's defence minister has denounced
former junta chief General Ansumane Mane's decision to proclaim himself army
head without the consent of civilian President Kumba Yala.
   Mane's announcement Monday raised fears of more military unrest in this
tiny west African country only 11 months into civilian rule.
   Defense Minister Fernando Correia Landim said in a statement that the
takeover was "anti-democratic" and said the authorities would seek to assure
that laws are respected.
   He said however that the government was "open to dialogue" with the
general, whose junta in 1998 launched a bloody 11-month rebellion which
ended
with the ouster of then-president Joao Bernardo Vieira.
   Mane however went on national radio later in the day -- as "supreme
commander of the military junta" -- to appeal for calm, saying the issue was
"purely military". The situation is "under control," he said.
   Announcing his takeover as army head before army officials, Mane had
claimed he had been the object of an attempt to "physically eliminate" him.
   Early Tuesday the streets of Bissau were calm and there were no reports
of
unrest. Ministers were to meet later in the day to discuss Mane's move,
national radio reported.
   Mane's junta swept into action in June 1998 when Vieira sacked the
general,
then army chief of staff.
   In May 1999, Vieira was ousted and Mane and Yala jointly headed a
transition government.
   Yala -- a candidate of the opposition which did not have the support of
the
army -- was elected head the civilian government in January.
   With Yala in power, the junta no longer had an official existence.
   In August a law was brought in stipulating that the head of the state was
also the head of the armed forces, but Yala has never succeeded in imposing
himself on the army, which in turn has repeatedly demanded more power in the
running of the country.
   Mane said he decided to take over the army because he was not pleased
with
military appointments made last week by Yala.
   He said the president had changed a list the army had given him of
officers
due for promotion.
   Many here believe Mane's relations with the president are becoming
increasingly strained, pointing for example to his absence from military
ceremonies last Thursday.
   During the ceremonies, Yala called for a restructuring of the army,
saying
the country had to be able to afford its cost.
   The international community has on several occasions called for the army
to
remain separate from political life in the country.
   One opposition party, the Union for Change (UM), has welcomed Mane's
move,
saying it was a decision "likely to stabilise the army situation."
   str-at/kc/gd

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