Another sad lesson in how to self-destruct. Whoever said we learn from history... Government troops in Guinea-Bissau are reported to have shot and killed the fugitive coup leader, General Ansumane Mane, in a gun battle north-west of the capital. Portuguese state television, RTP, showed footage of what it said was the body of the former army general, who defied the government earlier this month by declaring himself head of the armed forces. Eight of General Mane's followers are reported to have been killed. Reporting from the capital Bissau, a Portuguese TV correspondent said General Mane was shot in the neck in a clash with loyalist troops near the town of Quinhamel, 30km (20 miles) north of the city. General Mane had fled the capital with a few followers a week ago after his abortive attempt at a military revolt in the former Portuguese colony. Many of his followers deserted when government forces attacked them at an airbase north of Bissau. The TV correspondent said the latest clash was triggered by the capture of General Mane's security officer, who was brought to Bissau on Thursday. "Then the manhunt that had been going on since last week was stepped up in the area of Quinhamel, where it turns out he had been all this time." The correspondent said General Mane and his entourage, including some officers, were surrounded by an army unit about 50-strong. "There was shooting for about two minutes, and then silence. The operation was over," he added. "Ten minutes later they brought out Ansumane Mane's body... to the great jubilation of the local people, who, like former President Nino Vieira are members of the Pepel ethnic group." General Mane himself belonged to the Mandinga Muslim tribe. "As far as I know Mane made no attempt to surrender. He died in action," the correspondent said. General Mane unilaterally declared himself head of the armed forces when President Kumba Yala announced a number of senior military appointments of which Mr Mane disapproved. General Mane maintained that the appointments were ethnically based and risked destabilising the country. More than 200 people, including politicians and members of parliament, were arrested after the fighting between government troops and those loyal to General Mane. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------