Annan sends official to Equatorial Guinea to assess security after coup attempt

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is sending a senior UN official to Equatorial Guinea to assess the security situation in the West African country and the sub-region after attempts were made to stage a coup, his spokesman said today.

"The Secretary-General has been following with concern recent developments in Equatorial Guinea where attempts have been made to overthrow the Government by unconstitutional means," spokesman Fred Eckhard told the press in New York.

"The Secretary-General has therefore decided to dispatch to Equatorial Guinea the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Tuliameni Kalomoh, as his Special Envoy to discuss with the authorities the situation on the ground and its implications for peace and security in the sub-region."

Representatives of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have met to discuss how to deal with the reported coup attempt.