Guinea-Bissau soldiers arrest journalist, bodyguards in latest unrest in African narcostate

BISSAU, Guinea Bissau - A Portuguese news agency says a popular journalist in Guinea-Bissau was detained after soldiers arrested the prime minister.

News agency Lusa reported journalist Antonio Aly Silva was released Saturday.

The journalist, author of a popular blog, told Lusa he was held for a few hours and was released along with several of detained prime minister Carlos Gomes' bodyguards and singer Dulce Neves.

Soldiers said Friday they arrested Gomes, the latest instability to roil a coup-prone West African country where no leader in nearly 40 years has finished his time in office.

The tiny West African nation — known for being a cocaine hub — was due to hold a contentious presidential runoff election on April 29, with Gomes as the front-runner.