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| Africa Subsaharan | |
| Coup leader declares himself new Guinea 'president' | |
| 2008-12-26 | |
| A junior army officer declared himself the new president of Guinea and ordered the government and top military brass to give themselves up by the end of Thursday. Moussa Dadis Camara, an army captain in his forties, appeared to be tightening his grip on the mineral-rich west African nation following the death of Lansana Conte. In a show of force, Camara paraded through the capital on Wednesday with hundreds of soldiers before announcing he was the new "president of the republic". A crowd of thousands of coup supporters thronged the streets of Conakry, surrounding the presidential palace and the government ministries, before dispersing peacefully. Among them were many young people from the suburbs of the capital, disaffected after years of dictatorial rule. "We no longer want the Conte system in Guinea. And if you are cutting down a tree, you must tear out all its roots," said Edouard, a 22-year-old student. Conte had ruled with an iron fist since 1984 and within hours of his passing late on Monday at the age of 74, a group of soldiers took control of the airwaves and claimed to have seized power. "I am convinced, reassured that I am the president of the republic, the head of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD)," Camara said at his first press conference late on Wednesday. Later, in a statement read on radio and state television the CNDD junta said, "All army officers and all former members of the government are asked to go to camp Alpha Yaya Diallo in the next 24 hours." When the ultimatum had passed for all to go to the main military base near the international airport, "a sweep of the entire national territory will be organised," the new military leadership warned. The clampdown came amid growing international condemnation of the coup with the African Union warning of "stern measures" if the military ignored calls to allow a democratic transition of power.
Camara plans to lead a 32-member interim administration, made up of 26 military officers and six civilians, and has ruled out any new elections until December 2010. There was no reaction so far from Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare -- who on Tuesday maintained his government was still in charge -- or from parliament speaker Aboubacar Sompare. A curfew called by Guinea's new military leaders has been delayed until Friday "to allow Christians to celebrate a peaceful Christmas holiday", according to a statement read on national radio. Friday is also the day when Conte's funeral is to be held in his home village, according to family sources. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 meet the new boss, same as the old boss... until someone caps Camara and becomes the new new boss |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-12-26 19:14 |