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| Thousands greet Guinea coup chief | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Guineans have gone onto the streets of the capital to welcome the leader of a coup that followed the death of the country's president. | |
| A junior army officer, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, has been declared president of a ruling council set up to replace government and other bodies. | |
| He has declared an overnight curfew throughout the country. | |
| Government leaders have insisted they are still in power and have called for help from the international community. | |
| The African Union has been discussing the crisis and a regional delegation is due to go to Guinea on Thursday to try to convince the army to allow a return to constitutional rule. | |
| President Lansana Conte, 74, died on Monday night and renegade soldiers moved to seize power in the hours afterwards, taking control of state radio and television. | |
| The funeral of President Conte is to take place on Friday in his home village. | |
| 'Destabilising' | 'Destabilising' |
| The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in the capital, Conakry, said that shortly after Capt Camara was named as president of the new junta, a large convoy of soldiers, policemen and firemen took to the streets in a large motorcade. | |
| We have no intention of bringing in mercenaries Ahmed Tidiane Souare Guinea's prime minister 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 | |
| Tens of thousands of people came out to cheer and applaud them, shouting: "Welcome to this change; welcome to this change!" | |
| Earlier, the new council - the National Council for Democracy and Development - announced a curfew from 2000 to 0600. | |
| The coup leaders also warned forces loyal to the government against using mercenaries to restore themselves to power. | |
| "I would like to inform the people of Guinea that there are generals who for unknown reasons are trying to recruit mercenaries - some of whom are already inside our borders - for the purpose of destabilising our attempts to establish peace and democracy," Capt Camara said. | "I would like to inform the people of Guinea that there are generals who for unknown reasons are trying to recruit mercenaries - some of whom are already inside our borders - for the purpose of destabilising our attempts to establish peace and democracy," Capt Camara said. |
| A man believed to be Capt Camara makes a television address | A man believed to be Capt Camara makes a television address |
| His statement followed a call by the parliament speaker, Aboubacar Sompare, for the international community to intervene. | His statement followed a call by the parliament speaker, Aboubacar Sompare, for the international community to intervene. |
| 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. |
| 'Idiotic' | 'Idiotic' |
| The country's Prime Minister, Ahmed Tidiane Souare, has insisted the government, protected by loyal troops, was still the legitimate authority. | The country's Prime Minister, Ahmed Tidiane Souare, has insisted the government, protected by loyal troops, was still the legitimate authority. |
| He rejected the coup leaders' claims that mercenaries could be used. | He rejected the coup leaders' claims that mercenaries could be used. |
| "It's idiotic - no, it's not true at all," Mr Souare told the Associated Press news agency. | "It's idiotic - no, it's not true at all," Mr Souare told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "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." | "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." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWe need a change, change that will benefit all Guineans. We pray for a good leaderAmara, NzerekoreSend us your comments | |
| Capt Camara has said the new ruling council replacing the government and other institutions would hold "free, credible and transparent elections" in December 2010, when President Conte's term would have ended. | Capt Camara has said the new ruling council replacing the government and other institutions 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. |
| 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 was a chain-smoker and diabetic who is also believed to have suffered from leukaemia. | |
| The African Union, European Union and United States led condemnation of the coup. | The African Union, European Union and United States led condemnation of the coup. |