The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement on Tuesday condemning the killing of Guinea-Bissau's president and army chief.
In the statement, the 15-member body condemned "in the strongest terms" the assassinations of President Joao Bernardo Vieira and Chief of General Staff Tagme Na Waie, who were killed in separate incidents on late Sunday and on early Monday morning.
The council expressed its deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the president, to those of the victims and to the people and the government of Guinea-Bissau.
While calling on the government to bring to justice those responsible for the assassinations, the council urged the government, political leaders, the Armed Forces and people of Guinea-Bissau to "remain calm, exercise restraint, maintain stability and constitutional order and respect the rule of law and the democratic process."
The council urged all parties to resolve their disputes through political and peaceful means within the framework of its democratic institutions, and opposed any attempt to change the government through unconstitutional means.
It welcomed statements condemning the incidents by the international community and called for continued international support for constitutional order and peace building efforts in the country. An unknown number of soldiers apparently launched a retaliatory strike after Na Waie was killed in an explosion that destroyed part of the military headquarters late on Sunday.
In a statement issued on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon also strongly condemned the violent incidents, calling for restraint and order and respect for the rule of law.