BISSAU (AFP) - Angolan troops, whose presence angered local soldiers and prompted a coup in April, on Wednesday began leaving Guinea-Bissau, an AFP journalist witnessed.
An Angolan cargo plane left Bissau mid-morning carrying men, tanks and heavy weaponry while an Angolan ship which arrived on Tuesday night loaded armoured vehicles and containers as it prepared to leave for Luanda.
An officer with an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mission ECOMIB which is replacing the Angolan mission, said the withdrawal will take place over "five days, at the rhythm of the Angolan government."
"There are no major obstacles, the operation is going well in a cordial arrangement between the Angolans and ECOWAS," he added.
An Angolan diplomat said the departure of the Angolan troops signaled "the end of military co-operation" with Guinea-Bissau.
In addition, Luanda would not replace ambassador Feliciano Antonio Dos Santos who left in April.
The 600-strong Angolan force arrived in March 2011 as part of a bilateral military agreement.
However in a country where decades of conflict between army and state have led to coups, assassinations and chronic instability, it was seen as a personal protection force for government, and prompted an April 12 coup.
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