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Guinea
Conté's funeral starts, military invites foreign powers to meet
Article published on the 2008-12-26 Latest update 2008-12-29 10:48 TU
Coup leader Moussa Dadis Camara waves to crowds in Conakry
(Photo: Reuters)
The funeral of Guinea's late President, Lansana Conté, began on Friday morning in the capital, Conakry. Heads of neighbouring states and hundreds of Guineans gathered at the country's parliament, before a service at the national stadium and the transport of the coffin to Conté's home village.
Among those paying tribute to Conté were trade union leaders who had denounced him for "pillaging" the country during his lifetime, and Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma, Liberia's Ellen Johson Sirleaf and Côte d'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo.
With the funeral, Guinea will "turn an important page in its history", says RFI's French service reporter Laurent Correau.
Conté's 24-year rule prevented the country developing, he says.
"The old farmer and soldier was not the only one concerned," adds Correau. "Guinean analysts explain that different groups had managed to surround the sick President and take over real power: groups of businessmen, politicians, soldiers and civil servants."
Coup leader Moussa Dadis Camara plans a 32-member adminstration, with 26 military members and six civilians.
The mid-ranking officers who seized power on Conté's death are trying to fend off international criticism and consolidate domestic support with two meetings set for Saturday.
The first will bring together "representatives of civil society, political parties, religious faiths and unions", the government declared in a statement read on national radio.
The second aims to "reassure the international community". Envoys from the Group of Eight rich countries, the UN, European Union and African Union have been invited.
France, which ruled Guinea from 1890 to 1958, has called for "a peaceful, ordered and democratic transition" and "free and transparent elections which should be organised soon and under international monitoring".
The US has condemned the military seizure of power.
But thousands of Guineans greeted Camara when he paraded through the streets of Conakry Wednesday and trade unioins congratulated the soldiers for their commitment to "the process of change".
The deposed government has promised to back the military.
"We are at your complete disposal," deposed Prime Minister Ahmad Tidiane Souaré told Camara after coming out of hiding on Thursday. "We thank you once again for your wisdom, Mr President."
