The agency said Cabral, sacked by President Kumba Yala last week, was first detained for a few hours on Tuesday night.

After his release Cabral briefly took refuge at the offices of the United Nations in Bissau, capital of the former Portuguese colony, but was again detained on Wednesday, sources told Lusa.

President Yala has given no explanation for his decision to fire Cabral.

State police in the poverty-stricken country have arrested a number of opposition leaders and government critics in recent weeks in the run-up to a twice-postponed early legislative election now scheduled for July 6.

The majority have been released after brief periods behind bars.

President Yala, who took power in 2000, dissolved parliament last November following a row with his prime minister.

Elections had first been due in February, within the three-month deadline required by the constitution, but were pushed back to April because of difficulties in organizing the ballot.

The ballot was pushed back again after Yala agreed to international demands that electoral registers be updated before the vote.

Elections were last held in Guinea Bissau in 1999 as part of a deal to end a civil war which killed some 2,000 people.

The coastal country of 1.2 million inhabitants is bounded by Senegal in the north and by Guinea to the south and east.

SPACE.WIRE