Guinea-Bissau president says ‘attack on democracy’ thwarted

President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Cissoko Embalo (Michel Euler/AP)

Assailants armed with machine guns attacked Guinea-Bissau’s government palace on Tuesday while the president and prime minister were inside – but the coup attempt ultimately failed, the president announced.

The foiled attack came only about two weeks after a military junta overthrew the democratically elected leader of Burkina Faso, underscoring fears that a recent spate of coups is inspiring others in the region.