Guinea junta appoints government

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Guinea's military leaders have named a government made up of military officers and technocrats three weeks after they seized power.

Soldiers hold the key finance, justice, and defence portfolios.

No representatives from political parties have been appointed but former banker Mahmoud Thiam has been put in charges of the mines sector.

The junta have promised to stand down and hold elections this year, according to a senior French official.

They initially said they would hold elections in 2010.

Banker Kabine Komara was named as prime minister last month.

Guinea has been suspended from both the African Union and the West African regional bloc Ecowas until it holds elections.

Capt Moussa Dadis Camara led a coup after the death of President Lansana Conte, who had ruled since 1984.

More than a third of the world's bauxite reserves are in Guinea, making it the second-largest producer internationally. It also has large reserves of gold, diamonds, iron and nickel.