Mutinous Guinea Bissau Soldiers Attempt Coup

Guinea-Bissau’s President Joao Bernardo Vieira survived an attempted coup Sunday after loyal guards repelled mutinying soldiers who shot at his official residence in an intended assassination. Vieira emerged unscathed after hiding in a fortified room as guards fought for three hours to neutralize the attack that began with heavy artillery fire on shortly after midnight. At least one presidential guard died and several others were injured. Guinea-Bissau has had a long history of coups, including a 1980 putsch in which Vieira first seized power before his 1998 ouster and subsequent return to power through a 2005 election.[PE]