Bissau Gears Up to Battle Imminent Terrorist Attacks

The Bissau-Guinean government is stepping up security measures at the internal and border checkpoints including at the airport in a bid to ward off threats of reprisal attacks a week ago by Mauritanian Islamists abetting with the Al-Qaeda network in the Maghreb, presidential sources said here Friday.

A week ago, Bissau authorities extradited three Mauritanians back home after they were arrested for allegedly killing four French tourists in December.

Two of them had acknowledged that they killed four French tourists on 24 December in southern Mauritania and expressed no remorse for their deeds.

The authorities have just set up a technical commission comprising the ministries of Interior, Defense, Justice, Transport, Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to handle the execution of these measures.

Mobile patrols comprising agents from the Police, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Information services of the army and the State Information services will ensure the surveillance of the national territory 24 hours a day, the source noted.

In addition to the security reinforcement at sensitive areas, the surveillance will also be consolidated at places open to the public particularly night clubs and hotels.

On their side, the Bissau-Guinean embassies and consular representatives are urged to tighten the visa delivery conditions to foreigners wishing to visit Guinea-Bissau.

Source African Press Agency

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