NEW YORK, May 19 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council has banned five leaders of a military coup in Guinea-Bissau from traveling outside their West African country.
The United Nations urged its member states to uphold the ban, the U.N. News Service said. The military overturned a civilian government April 12.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony in West Africa, is one of the world's poorest countries. It has been politically unstable since it became independent in 1974.
In its resolution, the council urged the current rulers to begin planning for democratic elections, return soldiers to barracks and require military leaders to give up their government positions. The council also urged the Economic Community of West African States and other international groups to continue the mediation process in Guinea-Bissau.
The United Nations said that since the coups there have been reports of the military looting state assets and detaining and mistreating civilians.
