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Burkina Faso: Guinea Leader in 'Difficult' Condition

Scott Stearns 04 December 2009

Guinea's military ruler, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, is said to be in worse condition than initially reported, after being shot by troops loyal to one of his aides.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore described Captain Camara's condition as "difficult but not desperate." He said he thinks the Guinean leader will undergo an operation because he was hit by bullets.

Mr. Compaore is the regional mediator in Guinea's political crisis. He said the information came from the Guinean leader's personal doctor.

Guinea's communications minister said earlier that Captain Camara suffered only slight wounds and was walking and talking normally. Others familiar with the situation said the 45-year-old Camara suffered a bullet wound to the head.

The Guinean military ruler is being treated at a military hospital in Morocco's capital, Rabat, where he was flown earlier Friday.

Morocco's Foreign Ministry says the country decided to help Captain Camara on "strictly humanitarian" grounds.

This is the first time Captain Camara has left Guinea since seizing power in a coup nearly a year ago.

Guinea's capital, Conakry, appeared to be calm Friday, with soldiers patrolling the main roads. In statements aired by state television, Guinea's ruling military council said the situation is "under control." But it urged Guinea's people to "remain vigilant."

Captain Camara was shot by soldiers loyal to his aide, Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, known as Toumba.

Local human rights groups say Toumba had freed a member of the presidential guard, who was arrested with nine others for their role in the massacre of opposition demonstrators September 28.

When Captain Camara went to Toumba's base to investigate, he was shot. The government initially said Toumba had been arrested, but later reports said his location is not known.

Toumba is accused of having led security forces who opened fire on the September 28 opposition rally in Conakry. The massacre has led to a political crisis in Guinea, and to an ongoing probe by United Nations investigators.

The U.N. says more than 150 people were killed in the incident, while the government puts the death toll at no more than 57.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.