Lisbon  - Guinea-Bissau's interim President Raimundo Pereira praised slain president Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira as having represented "humanist values," condemning his killing as an "affront to the republic" at a state funeral for Vieira on Tuesday.

The 69-year-old president was shot dead in his home a week ago by soldiers angered by the killing of army chief Tagme Na Wai, Vieira's long-time rival, a few hours earlier. Tagme was buried over the week- end.

Lisbon - The state funeral ceremony began Tuesday at Guinea-Bissau's parliament for slain president Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, Portuguese media reported.

The 69-year-old president was shot dead in his home a week ago by soldiers angered by the killing of army chief Tagme Na Wai, Vieira's long-time rival, a few hours earlier. Tagme was buried over the week- end.

The room where Vieira's coffin lay-in-state was so crowded that some diplomats could not sit down.

Lisbon - Portugal is excluding foreign military intervention in Guinea-Bissau, where the army and the civilian authorities have given the former colonial power assurances of their will to maintain peace, a senior official was Wednesday quoted as saying.

Portugal's Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Joao Gomes Cravinho spoke to the Portuguese news agency Lusa in Cape Verde after visiting Guinea-Bissau, the president of which Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira was shot dead on Monday.

Sao Paulo  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday condemned the murder of Guinea-Bissau President Joao Bernardo Vieira.

"We cannot remain quiet in the face of an attack against a budding democracy, which was just starting to be formed," the Brazilian leader said, after meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in Sao Paulo.

Vieira was slain Monday by soldiers loyal to his Army chief, General Tagme Na Waie, who died in a bombing Sunday evening.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the assassinations of Guinea-Bissau's President Joao Bernardo Vieira and his Army chief General Batista Tagme Na Waie.

The UN was preparing to provide further assistance to Guinea- Bissau to implement peace building projects and democratic reform following the recent successful legislative elections under the slain president. Vieira was slain Monday by soldiers loyal to General Wai, who died in a bombing Sunday evening.

Washington  - The United States on Monday called for an end