Correia Seabra led a military coup in September 2003 which ousted controversial president Kumba Yala from power.

Another senior military officer was killed in the unrest, Jacinto added.

Earlier Wednesday hundreds of soldiers demanding overdue wages took up key positions in the capital of Guinea Bissau and opened fire on military headquarters.

The soldiers returned to their barracks once the government agreed to discuss their complaints.

Guinea-Bissau's Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior Gomes told reporters the rebellious troops were believed to be soldiers who recently returned from peacekeeping duty with the United Nations in Liberia and were angry about delays in being paid.

"We cant accept demands being made at gunpoint," he told reproters in Guinea-Bissau earlier Wednesday.