Monitors including Human Rights Watch and The Independent have documented hundreds of cases of politically inspired disappearances and false imprisonment, torture and murder.

The pattern of abductions suggests a systematic effort to close down any information-gathering about government activities, either by the opposition, journalists or human rights groups.

However, dissident factions within the army are presenting a new problem for the government. Unprecedented clashes this month between soldiers and police have been followed by more skirmishes as the army is being affected by the economic crisis.