COUP D'ÉTAT IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

Abstract

Extracted from text ... During the early hours of 16 July 2003, the small, West African island state of S?o Tom? and Principe (STP) was woken by the sounds of gunshots and exploding grenades. The usually calm and peaceful capital city, also called S?o Tom?, would soon learn that a coup d'?tat was underway and that the democratically elected government had been toppled by force. A group of army officers, led by the commanding officer in charge of the Army Training College, Major Fernando Pereira, had taken control of the airport; the radio and television buildings; the central bank and several ministries; and ..