Guinea

PM obeys junta and surrenders

Article published on the 2008-12-25 Latest update 2008-12-29 10:48 TU

Junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara on the streets of Conakry
(Photo: AFP)

Guinea's Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré surrendered Thursday at an army camp near Conakry after the junta last night on national radio gave former government ministers and generals 24 hours to come forward, threatening to organise a manhunt if they failed to do so.

"The junta has dismissed all regional governors and has replaced them with regional military heads," said correspondent Karim Kamara in Conakry. "Ministers have been replaced with their permanent secretaries until a new prime minister will be appointed," he said.

Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare says he is not giving up his position, maintaining that the civilian government is still in charge.

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, a mid-ranking officer who had previously been head of the miltary's fuel supply, held a press conference on Wednesday, saying that he was the president of the republic and the head of the junta's National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD). 

In the statement read out over public radio Wednsday night, the junta called the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament "spent forces" because "they had all been rejected by the people of Guinea because of their selfish ambitions."

The military junta claims they took power because "it was timely to avoid tribal conflict in the country," according to correspondent Kamara.

Earlier Wednesday, the junta paraded through the streets of Conakry with hundreds of troops, while thousands of supporters amassed on the streets before dispersing peacefully.

The junta took power on Monday, hours after the death of Lansana Conté, a despotic leader since 1984.

A number of world bodies have condemned the bloodless military coup d'etat.

The African Union met Wednesday morning in Ethiopia's capital Addis Abeba to discuss the situation.

The United States has treatened to suspend 15 million dollars in aid if the military leaders do not take steps to re-install civilian rule.

Captain Camara claims he has no political ambitions, but the junta said elections would be held in December 2010.