Guinea-Bissau probes assassination of ex-intelligence boss

Guinea-Bissau said Tuesday it has launched a probe into the assassination of the former chief of military intelligence which has overshadowed the troubled nation's presidential poll.

"The enquiry into the death of Colonel Samba Diallo began yesterday (Monday)," said attorney general Edmundo Mendes, adding that the investigation was being supported by the judicial police.

Sunday's election was being seen as a test of the west African country's commitment to stability -- with army reform seen as vital to normalising a dysfunctional state sorely in need of development.

However, just hours after a peaceful day of voting ended, Diallo was shot dead by men in military dress as he sat on the terrace of a restaurant near his home.

No clear motive has emerged for the killing of Diallo, who was accused of involvement in a 2009 bombing that killed the then army chief and prompted the murder of president Joao Bernardo Vieira in a revenge attack a few hours later.

Diallo was director of military intelligence until April 2010, when he was arrested with other top officers on suspicion of involvement in the 2009 attack.

Diallo was due to be buried later Tuesday, according to a source close to the family.

Votes are still being tallied from the election with provisional results expected this weekend.