Sao Tome to ask for U.S. boats to boost coast guard

Reuters, 03.30.04, 4:38 PM ET


By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The president of the tiny oil-rich nation Sao Tome and Principe said Tuesday he will ask the United States to help boost his country's security following a coup attempt in nearby Equatorial Guinea.

Sao Tome President Fradique de Menezes, who is visiting Washington, said he will ask the Bush administration for any surplus boats that could be used by his country's coast guard to protect the nation's territorial waters.

Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has said mercenaries who plotted to overthrow him had also been planning coups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sao Tome.

The United States is pushing for development of Sao Tome's oil reserves to help diversify America's crude supplies.

http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2004/03/30/rtr1317392.html

Who does he think he is dealing with Mary Poppins?
He should have a chat with Aristide about his US "security guards".

"Just let me and my cronies have some of the cash and don't kill us. We will play along, now that we know you mean business."