26 Dec 2008

Guinea coup leaders seek to allay concerns

5:07 pm on 26 December 2008

The leaders of Tuesday's military coup in Guinea have invited foreign diplomats to a meeting, saying they want to reassure the international community about their intentions.

The rebels said the talks would be held in the capital, Conakry, on Saturday.

There has been international condemnation of Tuesday's coup, but it was welcomed by some people in Guinea.

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara led the revolt just hours after the death of veteran strongman President Lansana Conte, who was due to be buried later on Friday.

Sick and tired of despotic rule under the former president and his hugely corrupt government, Guineans are pinning their hopes on the military, says a BBC correspondent.

On Thursday, Guinean Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and about 30 other ministers submitted to the coup leaders.

Government leaders had previously insisted they were still in control.

In a statement read on Guinea's national radio, the junta said as well as the meeting with foreign envoys, they would hold separate talks with leaders of Guinea's political parties and civil society groups.

Captain Camara, a junior army officer, has declared himself Guinea's new president and head of the junta's new National Council for Democracy and Development.

He announced the new 32-member ruling council replacing the government and other institutions would hold "free, credible and transparent elections" in December 2010, when Mr Conte's presidential term would have ended.

Captain Camara also said he had no intention of standing in the elections and that he wanted to restore order to the country and rid it of corruption.

The African Union, European Union and United States have condemned the coup.