West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Sunday threatened "targeted sanctions" on anyone obstructing Guinea-Bissau's return to civilian rule following last month's coup.

The announcement came as presidents from across the region met Sunday in Nigeria for a bi-annual meeting whose agenda was dominated by two recent coup attempts: a successful military takeover in Guinea-Bissau and a failed putsch in Benin.

"The authorities shall impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the transition process," ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray told reporters at the end of summit, held in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The twin disruptions of civilian rule -- last month in Guinea-Bissau and a week ago in Benin -- have rattled ECOWAS.

The bloc was previously hit wi

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