Comorian officials on Friday confirmed the arrest of a dozen soldiers and two local ministers linked to a failed coup aimed at overthrowing the fledgling union government of President Azali Assoumani. Presidential spokesman Houmed M’Saidie told IRIN that Justice Minister for Grande Comoro Arbeouraouf Ahmed and Defence Minister Sheik Ali Bacar Cassim were arrested on Wednesday. “According to our intelligence reports, the main objective of the group was to overthrow the national government. Part of their plan was also to kidnap some important government ministers including myself. The plot was to have been carried out on 9 February, but fortunately one of its leaders exposed the plan,” said M’Saidie. The accused were believed to be closely linked to the president of Grande Comoro island, but the island government has denied any involvement in the attempted coup. Full Story