Rebel troops defeated the Vieira regime and took control of the government. Gen. Vieira sought political asylum with the Portuguese; the leader of the National Popular Assembly, Malam Bacai Sanha, was installed as the new president. The nation was largely controlled at this time by the victorious coup leader, Gen. Mane.
Interim president Sanha was defeated by the leader of Guinea-Bissau's popular independence movement, Kumba Yala, who received nearly 72 percent of the vote. This second round of presidential voting and a Nov. 1999 legislative election restored the government to civilian rule.
