African president gets a devil of an eulogy
July 25, 2003 Edition -1
Malabo - State radio in the tiny West African state of Equatorial Guinea has hailed the nation's leader as "the country's God" and declared he is in permanent contact with the Almighty.
In a programme dealing with "peace, tranquillity and the order reigning in the country", it declared that President Teodoro Obiang Nguema was "like God in heaven ... He has all power over men and things.
"He can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to hell because it is God himself, with whom he is in permanent contact, who gives him this strength."
The radio warned against any attempt to disrupt the peace and order which, it said, had reigned since Obiang (61) took power in a coup 23 years ago. He was re-elected in December for a third seven-year term.
The remarks were made in a weekly programme presented by a presidential aide and broadcast in Fang, the language used by the majority ethnic group. - Sapa-AFP
