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Guinea plea to end attempted coup Coup leaders warn off mercenaries
(about 2 hours later)
The head of Guinea's national assembly has urged the international community to stop an attempted military coup. Coup leaders in Guinea have warned army generals backing the government not to use mercenaries to oppose the coup.
Junior officers leading the coup effort said intervention by outside forces, who they say are already in Guinea, would lead to consequences.
The country's prime minister insists the government is still in control, but the situation remains unclear.
Observers fear unrest in Guinea could spread in a region enjoying relative stability after years of conflict.
The national assembly head has urged the international community to prevent the coup attempt succeeding.
"The international community must... prevent the military from interrupting the democratic process," Aboubacar Sompare told Reuters news agency."The international community must... prevent the military from interrupting the democratic process," Aboubacar Sompare told Reuters news agency.
Soldiers said on Tuesday that they had seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte, but the situation remains unclear. We have no intention of bringing in mercenaries. In fact, we haven't even asked our own armed forces to intervene Ahmed Tidiane Souare Guinea's prime minister
African Union leaders are holding emergency talks on the crisis.African Union leaders are holding emergency talks on the crisis.
According to Guinea's constitution, Mr Sompare should be in charge of the government until elections are held in 60 days.According to Guinea's constitution, Mr Sompare should be in charge of the government until elections are held in 60 days.
In a telephone interview with Reuters, Mr Sompare said the army was split between loyalists and coup-plotters.In a telephone interview with Reuters, Mr Sompare said the army was split between loyalists and coup-plotters.
Lansana Conte seized power in 1984 and won three controversial elections Fear in Guinea at army takeover'End of misrule'Obituary: Guinea's Lansana ConteGuinea army statement in full
"The situation hasn't been resolved yet. Loyalists and coup-mongers have met... but they haven't been able to reach an agreement," Mr Sompare said."The situation hasn't been resolved yet. Loyalists and coup-mongers have met... but they haven't been able to reach an agreement," Mr Sompare said.
But in a statement on national television, a coup representative accused loyalist troops of seeking "the intervention of foreign mercenaries from neighbouring countries". 'Idiotic'
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare has said the government, protected by loyal troops, was still the legitimate authority. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare has said the government, protected by loyal troops, was still the legitimate authority. Lansana Conte seized power in 1984 and won three controversial elections class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797371.stm">Fear in Guinea at army takeover class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7798079.stm">'End of misrule' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797015.stm">Obituary: Guinea's Lansana Conte class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797629.stm">Guinea army statement in full
There are tanks on the streets of Conakry, but for the moment the city is calm. And he rejected the coup leaders' claims that mercenaries could be used.
A power struggle in the army could be extremely dangerous given the country's ethnic divisions, says the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross. "It's idiotic - no, it's not true at all," Mr Souare told the Associated Press news agency.
Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after years of conflict, and there are fears any unrest in Guinea could spread. "We are still in control and we are trying to normalise the situation. We have no intention of bringing in mercenaries. In fact, we haven't even asked our own armed forces to intervene."
Mr Souare has been unable to communicate directly with the population since the dissident troops seized the state's TV and radio stations, AP said.
There are tanks on the streets of the capital, Conakry, but for the moment the city is calm.
Elections pledgeElections pledge
The crisis began hours after the death of President Conte, when coup spokesman Capt Camara went on state radio to say that the government and other institutions had been dissolved in favour of a National Council for Democracy. The crisis began hours after the death of President Lansana Conte, when coup spokesman Capt Camara went on state radio to say that the government and other institutions had been dissolved in favour of a National Council for Democracy.
He said he would head a 32-member national council that would run the country.He said he would head a 32-member national council that would run the country.
A man believed to be Capt Camara makes a television addressA man believed to be Capt Camara makes a television address
Later, he said the council would hold "free, credible and transparent elections" in December 2010, when President Conte's term would have ended.Later, he said the council would hold "free, credible and transparent elections" in December 2010, when President Conte's term would have ended.
"The council has no ambitions to hold on to power. The only reason is the need to safeguard territorial integrity. That is the only reason. There is no ulterior motive," he said."The council has no ambitions to hold on to power. The only reason is the need to safeguard territorial integrity. That is the only reason. There is no ulterior motive," he said.
However, there also appears to be disagreement among the plotters as to whether Capt Camara should head the new national council.However, there also appears to be disagreement among the plotters as to whether Capt Camara should head the new national council.
Many analysts had predicted the army would try to take over following President Conte's death because he had been increasingly relying on it to shore up his oppressive rule, our correspondent says.Many analysts had predicted the army would try to take over following President Conte's death because he had been increasingly relying on it to shore up his oppressive rule, our correspondent says.
In recent years he was in such poor health it was often difficult to know who was in charge.In recent years he was in such poor health it was often difficult to know who was in charge.
President Conte died on Monday night after a "long illness".President Conte died on Monday night after a "long illness".
The cause of his death is unknown, but Mr Conte, 74, was a chain-smoker and diabetic who is also believed to have suffered from leukaemia.The cause of his death is unknown, but Mr Conte, 74, was a chain-smoker and diabetic who is also believed to have suffered from leukaemia.
HAVE YOUR SAYWe need a change, change that will benefit all Guineans. We pray for a good leaderAmara, NzerekoreSend us your comments The African Union, European Union and United States led condemnation of the coup. HAVE YOUR SAYWe need a change, change that will benefit all Guineans. We pray for a good leaderAmara, NzerekoreSend us your comments
Mohammed ibn Chambas, head of regional body the Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas), said he would lead a delegation to Guinea on Thursday. The African Union, European Union and United States led condemnation of the coup.
Former colonial power France, in its capacity as the current holder of the EU presidency - said it would oppose any attempted putsch in Guinea.
President Conte came to power in 1984 at the head of a military coup to fill the vacuum left by the sudden death of his predecessor, Sekou Toure, who had been president since independence from France in 1958.President Conte came to power in 1984 at the head of a military coup to fill the vacuum left by the sudden death of his predecessor, Sekou Toure, who had been president since independence from France in 1958.
He eventually oversaw a return to civilian rule and was elected three times, although critics said the votes were never free or fair.He eventually oversaw a return to civilian rule and was elected three times, although critics said the votes were never free or fair.
A power struggle in the army could be extremely dangerous given the country's ethnic divisions, says the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross.
Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after years of conflict, and there are fears any unrest in Guinea could spread.
Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its population of about 10 million is among the poorest in the region.Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its population of about 10 million is among the poorest in the region.
Are you in Guinea? Or from the country? Tell us what you think about these developments. You can send your comments using the form below:Are you in Guinea? Or from the country? Tell us what you think about these developments. You can send your comments using the form below:
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