Top military general among alleged coup plotters freed in Guinea-Bissau

Four men accused of involvement in an alleged coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau were ordered to be released from pre-trial detention at a military prison Friday, in a ruling by the Supreme Court.

The court said that the men had never been formally named as suspects, and also pointed out that prosecutors had never officially interrogated them before requesting their pre-trial detention.

The four suspects, including alleged mastermind General Daba Na Walna, spent more than six months in detention for their supposed involvement in the late October coup attempt.

Na Walna was a high-ranking officer who was director-general of the military training centre at the time of his arrest.

Opposition leader freed

Guinea-Bissau opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, who is also accused of involvement in the October coup attempt, left prison Thursday after being allowed to seek medical treatment in Portugal.

In October the army said it had thwarted an "attempt to subvert the constitutional order" and arrested several senior military officers.

One month later, the army seized power just days after a presidential election, overthrowing president Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspending the electoral process.

Guinea-Bissau has seen five coups and several attempted overthrows since its independence in 1974.