Guinea Coup Plotters Name Leader
By VOA News
24 December 2008
A military group that says it has seized power in Guinea has appointed a leader, who it plans to install as the country's president.
Officers from the so-called National Council for Democracy and Development, CNDD, say Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has been chosen as head of the coup junta. The officers say Camara will be appointed head of state.
Earlier, the coup leaders announced a curfew that begins Wednesday, and will run each night from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Elections will be held in two years
Camara said elections will be held by end of 2010. He also accused the civilian government of trying to bring in foreign mercenaries.
The Associated Press quotes Guinean Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare as saying that claim is "not true at all."
The prime minister, army chief and speaker of the National Assembly say the civilian government is still in power. They say the coup is only backed by a small number of soldiers and that the government is working to restore order.
A journalist in the capital, Conakry, tells VOA that the city is calm, but that schools and businesses are closed. He says military vehicles can be seen going back and forth between the downtown area and suburbs where the coup leaders have their camp.
Death of longtime leader preceded coup
The unrest follows the death of Guinea's longtime President Lansana Conte on Monday.
With his death, the constitution says Guinea's supreme court should now make National Assembly Speaker Aboubacar Sompare president before elections in 60 days.
The African Union is holding an emergency session on Guinea Wednesday.
A United Nations envoy to West Africa, Said Djinnit, told the meeting in Ethiopia that no particular group has been able to assert its position in Guinea and that there is some indication of possible discussions.
Guinea's coup plotters accused the civilian government of widespread corruption, impunity and economic collapse.
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