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BISSAU, 25 Oct 2004 (IRIN) - The United Nations has provided the government of Guinea-Bissau with US$2.2 million to pay salary arrears owed to mutinous soldiers who killed the head of the armed forces earlier this month, government officials said on Monday.

Meanwhile, President Henrique Rosa has hinted that he will agree to the mutineers' demands that he appoint General Tagme Na Wai, as chief of staff of the armed forces to replace General Verissimo Seabra Correia, who was shot dead by the insurgents three weeks ago.

Portugal, the former colonial power in Guinea-Bissau, said last week it had sent a frigate to the area to stand by to evacuate the 500 Portuguese residents in the small West African country in the event of further trouble.

The 650 soldiers who staged a mutiny on 6 October to demand pay arrears due to them for their service with the UN peacekeeping force in Liberia, began receiving their backpay on Saturday.

Officials said the UN funds would cover four of the five months of pay arrears which they were owed.

Military sources said the soldiers would receive special pay of US$1,028 for each month served with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) - a fortune compared to their normal wage of 19,000 CFA francs ($35) per month.

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