African Union suspends Guinea-Bissau's membership after coup, arrests of top officials

The Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The African Union has suspended Guinea-Bissau's membership after a coup and the arrests of top officials.

Ramtane Lamamra, the head of the AU's peace and security council, announced the automatic suspension Tuesday at AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital. Lamamra said the AU could apply more sanctions if coup leaders don't take measures to return the country to constitutional rule.

West African mediators have said they will hold talks with the military coup leaders who seized power in the tiny country last week.

Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr., who was the front-runner in this month's presidential runoff vote set for April 29, remains in military custody as does interim President Raimundo Pereira, who took power after Guinea-Bissau's president died in January.