A soldier suspected of killing 11 people at a military barracks in Cape Verde has been arrested after a 24-hour manhunt.
Manuel Silva, a marine, was arrested Wednesday in the capital Praia while driving a stolen taxi, police told VOA's Portuguese to Africa service. They said he offered no resistance.
The government of the West African island nation had said a disgruntled soldier was suspected of killing eight soldiers and three civilians, including two Spanish nationals at a military base 45 kilometers from Praia.
It declared two days of national mourning starting Wednesday.
A statement posted on the government website Tuesday said "personal motives'' inspired the attack, ruling out an attempted coup or violence linked to drug gangs.
A retired army captain told VOA the shooting shows the fragility of the Cape Verde armed forces, which need to undergo a structural reform to combat drug trafficking.
In an interview this week with VOA, the U.S. Ambassador to the former Portuguese colony, Donald Heflin, reiterated U.S. support for Cape Verde security and defense.
VOA's Portuguese to Africa Service contributed to this report.
