West African forces complete G.Bissau deployment

The last batches of a 600-strong west African military force charged with restoring stability in Guinea-Bissau after an April coup arrived on Sunday in the unstable west African nation. "Our force is in place," an officer of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) told AFP. The 629 troops are based in Cumere, 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the capital. Nigerian and Senegalese nationals form the bulk of the force, flown in by Nigerian military planes. The soldiers who ousted Guinea-Bissau's government last month cited as a reason for their coup a 600-strong Angolan force that was part of a 2010 defence cooperation agreement between the two former Portuguese colonies. The ECOWAS soldiers will replace the Angolans and help keep order in the country during a transition period of one year until fresh elections are held. Guinea-Bissau has become a hub for drug-running between South America and Europe.