Protesters attacked in Guinea-Bissau

The United Nations called on authorities in Guinea-Bissau to respect the rights to free assembly after protesters were attacked by security forces. The U.N. Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau said demonstrators were attacked by state security forces in front of its building in the West African country. The mission, in a statement, said "the right to freedom of assembly, expression and association is guaranteed in the national legislation as well as in the international conventions adopted/ratified by Guinea-Bissau, and that they should be strictly respected and protected by competent authorities." The U.N. mission reminded authorities of a May 18 U.N. Security Council Resolution expressed concern about human rights in Guinea-Bissau, "including with regard to the repression of peaceful demonstrations." Military forces that toppled the government in Guinea-Bissau in April returned power to civilian authorities last week and agreed to organize elections within a year. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay last week expressed concern about instability in the country despite the political developments, however. None of Guinea-Bissau's elected leaders has finished a term in office since the country gained independence from Portugal in the 1970s. A coup attempt was thwarted in December.