Guinea - high-risk trip to provinces

Camara leaves Conakry for first time since seizing power

Article published on the 2009-09-26 Latest update 2009-09-26 13:33 TU

Captain Moussa Dadis Camarra (R)
(Photo: L Correau/RFI)

Guinea's military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara on Saturday set off in an armed convoy to the country's second largest city, the opposition stronghold of Labe, 400 kilometres north of the capital.

It is his first trip outside the capital Conakry since seizing power in December of last year.

About 20,000 local residents took to the streets of Labe in the thousands Thursday to protest at the planned visit.

They threatened to boycott Camara when he arrived and to close shops and businesses for the day. But on Saturday the city was reported to be calm, with shop open and groups of Camara's supporters gathered to greet him.

"Even though he is trying to embark on a nationwide tour, he is beginning from Labe before he goes to the other areas," points out correspondent Karim Kamara. "This is a clear message that Captain Dadis himself is intending to contest the 2010 presidential elections in Guinea."

The President is to give a speech to a rally in a stadium on Saturday evening.