Julio Mam Bali, an army commander who, at one time, was a close confidant of Guinea-Bissau's chief of general staff general Antonio Injai, has died in prison, a local newspaper, Ultima Hora, reported on Thursday.

The newspaper reported that Mam Bali who had began a hunger strike last week, succumbed to his voluntary deprivation of food.

Bali who was accused of treason by general Injai, was hit several times during his arrest, and was later detained about two weeks ago at the Mansoa prison, some 50 km north of Bissau.

According to the press, Bali led the April 1, 2012 operation which saw the then Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior being illegally confined for several hours, and later a coup d'etat took place on April 12, 2012.

Elsewhere, a police source told Xinhua that colonel Latche Na Mam who is the commander of the Gabu battalion in south-east Bissau, has been arrested and is being held at Mansoa prison, following the orders of general Injai.

According to a reliable source, his arrest is in connection with the disunity among the soldiers under his command.