Guinea-Bissau’s first leader dies

The first post-independence President of Guinea-Bissau, Luis Cabral, has died in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, aged 78.

Mr Cabral was president from 1974 until 1980 when he was overthrown by his prime minister, Joao Bernardo Vieira, who was assassinated in March.

After some time in exile in Cuba, the former Guinean president had lived in Lisbon since 1984.

The government is expected to hold an emergency session to organise a three-day period of national mourning.

“It is with shock and sadness that the government and people of Guinea-Bissau have learnt of the loss of one of their most illustrious sons, Luis Cabral,” the government announced in a statement, reported AFP news agency.

News of his death comes less than three months after Mr Vieira, who returned to power in 2005 elections, was assassinated by soldiers.

BBC.