Guinea-Bissau's authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into former ruler Kumba Yalla, who was accused this week of attempting a coup by briefly occupying the presidency building, judicial sources said on Saturday. Yalla, who was elected in 2000 and ousted in a bloodless putsch three years later, has denied occupying the presidency but the incident stoked fears of unrest in the tiny West African nation where presidential polls are due on June 19. Judicial sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Yalla was being investigated for allegedly entering the presidency building and for declaring himself president in a separate incident earlier this month. There was no immediate reaction from Yalla to the inquiry. On Wednesday, interim President Henrique Rosa accused Yalla of staging a coup and said he would have to answer for the act. Army chief Batista Tagme Na Waie and witnesses said Yalla and a group of men arrived at the presidency before dawn on Wednesday, and stayed for a few hours. But Yalla said he was not there and accused the authorities of lying. --more 2345 Local Time 2045 GMT
