Banjul — Two ministers from the sister Republics of Guinea and Senegal yesterday paid a courtesy call on the vice president and minister of WomenÂ's Affairs, Ajaratou Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

The two are Hadja Mafoula Sylla, the minister for Social Affairs in the Promotion of Women and Children of Guinea and Ndey Haddy Diop, the minister of WomenÂ's Affairs of Senegal. Speaking to the journalists shortly after her audience with the vice president, Minister Hadja Mafoula Sylla said they are here to participate in the Beijing +15 meeting but decided to meet Vice President Njie-Saidy to talk about the prevailing political situation in Guinea.

Minister Sylla further dilated on the events of September 28 in Guinea which led to the massacre of many people in that country. She solicited support from the government of The Gambia to address the situation. She added that countries in the sub-region understand the prevailing condition in Guinea, with all the sanctions slammed on the country by the international community. Â"As Africans, we should work together to solve our own problems in our own African way,Â" she said.

She also disclosed that her audience with VP Njie-Saidy also accorded her the opportunity to convey special thanks to the Gambian leader, His Excellency Shiekh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and the special greetings from Captain Mousa Dadis Camara. For her part, Ndey Haddy Diop, the minister of WomenÂ's Affairs of Senegal, also extended greetings and gratitude from President Wade of Senegal to President Jammeh and the people of The Gambia. She said that Senegal and The Gambia are the same. This is why we are here in large number to participate fully and to rally behind the vice president of The Gambia,Â" she concluded.