Britons told to leave Guinea Bissau

THE FOREIGN Office yesterday urged Britons to leave the west African state of Guinea Bissau after fighting broke out. It is believed 15 UK nationals are in Bissau, capital of the former Portuguese colony and scene of a military rebellion. They have been urged to gather at three meeting points in the town where they can prepare to leave the country.

The fighting was sparked by a military rebellion led by the sacked general Ansumane Mana and aimed at toppling the government of President Joao Bernardo Vieira. The Foreign Office said the warning, issued over the BBC World Service, was "precautionary" and the Britons were not thought to be in immediate danger. He added that there might be more UK nationals elsewhere in the country who had failed to make themselves known to the authorities.