Portugal has sent a team of investigators and police experts to São Tomé and Príncipe

 

Portugal has sent a team of investigators and police experts to the tiny equatorial nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, after an "urgent request for assistance" in the aftermath of an alleged attempted coup that left four people dead, authorities in the two countries said.

The team was sent on Sunday, and will "work directly with the judicial authorities" to investigate the events which took place last Thursday night and Friday.

Four people were arrested and later died according to the army chief of staff, who did not give more details on the circumstances, which remain unclear. 

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe -- a former colony of Portugal which has been independent since 1975 -- said it "strongly condemned" what it described as a "violent attempt to subvert the constitutional order", while assuring that "all investigations will be carried out to determine the causes and circumstances of the deaths", in addition to the investigations to determine the responsibilities of the attempted coup.

Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada announced on Friday that security forces had killed four people and detained two others including politician Delfim Neves following a thwarted coup attempt.

Trovoada said authorities believe the men were in search of weapons when they entered military barracks and abducted one hostage, who was later freed.