Talks near on Sao Tome coup

[bemildred]

I wish I knew more about this. I mean it's about oil, for
sure, but I don't believe this "Artillery Major" just decided
to seize the reins all by himself one day. There was a story in
the Wash. Post. to the effect he was "promising elections",
ha ha ha ha ha ..., following the well worn path.

Sao Tome - The leader of a
military coup in this tiny West
African nation said Friday
that he has agreed to open
talks with foreign envoys on
ending the crisis in the
oil-rich country.

Major Fernando Pereira, who
heads a three-man junta
installed after Wednesday's
bloodless coup, asked the
United States, Nigeria and a
delegation from
Portuguese-speaking
countries "to find a solution to
the crisis."

Major Pereira, an artillery
officer, did not say whether he was willing to back down and allow restoration
of civilian rule.

Sao Tome, a former Portuguese colony of about 140,000 people, lies in the
Gulf of Guinea, a region of growing importance to the United States and other
nations as a source for oil.

Globe and Mail