Guinea demo against coup leader
2009-09-24 22:49
Conakry - Around 20 000 people took to the streets of Guinea's second city on Thursday, police said, in the biggest opposition demonstration to date against the West African country's military ruler.
Organisers said more than twice that number marched through the centre of Labe, around 400km north of the capital Conakry, against a planned visit to the city on Saturday by junta leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power in December last year.
"Down with the military dictatorship, No to Khaki Power!" protesters shouted during the march.
The demonstration was prevented from reaching the main administrative headquarters by a strong police presence, but no violence was reported and the marchers dispersed peacefully, witnesses told AFP by telephone.
A new political party in Guinea announced last week that Camara would be its candidate in a presidential election in January despite international sanctions against him for reneging on a promise not to seek office.
In support of Camara
The new party, Rally for Defence of the Republic (RDR), was formed to support Camara's candidacy. Camara himself has yet to formally announce his candidacy.
However, Alpha Issiagha Diallo, one of the organisers of the Labe protest, said "Captain Dadis wants to use Labe to announce his candidature, but we refuse."
"Dadis Camara raised the hopes of the youth before sinking them like any dictator," he added.
"He was supported by the youth when he took power on December 23, 2008, and in the days following that, because he announced things which raised their hopes," he said.
The African Union has threatened sanctions on Camara over his apparent intention to run in the poll, with the first round set to be held January 31.
Labe is the stronghold of former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, a key opposition figure who will be a candidate in the January election.
Tens of thousands of Diallo supporters turned out to greet him at Conakry airport when he returned from Dakar and Paris on September 13.
Bloodless coup
Junta chief Camara installed himself at the helm after leading a bloodless coup within hours of the death of Guinea's strongman leader Lansana Conte who had been in power since 1984.
After initially saying he would not be running for president, he has since been dropping strong hints that he intends to be a candidate.
Diallo has said the junta leader should not be a candidate in the presidential race.