Junta vows early polls
2009-12-24 21:17
Conakry - Guinea's interim leader General Sekouba Konate vowed on Wednesday to hold democratic elections as soon as possible, as the west African country marked one year since the military coup.
Konate was addressing soldiers a year to the day after the army seized power following the death of long-standing ruler Lansana Conte.
The general became interim leader after the junta chief, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, was shot and wounded by an aide de camp three weeks ago.
The regime has come under international pressure since troops opened fire on opposition protesters at a rally in September.
"My dear brothers in arms, today our concern, for everybody, remains to lead (the nation) at the earliest possible date... to elections, the first free and democratic elections in our history," he told troops at the junta's headquarters.
Free and fair democratic elections
"That is the concern of the Guinean people, that is our mission. Nothing and nobody... can distract or distance us from this ideal," added Konate, who also serves as defence minister.
He added: "This is the place and the time to reaffirm with force our desire, mine and that of my companions, to help the Guinean people choose their leaders through free and democratic elections."
Guineans have seen or heard nothing of Camara since he was shot in the head by his aide de camp on December 3. He remains in hospital in Morocco, but his aides say he is recovering and plans to return to Conakry as soon as possible.
Both the United States and France have said they fear Camara's return could spark civil war in the west African country.
His regime celebrated its first year in power on Wednesday as pressure mounts from the international community for alleged crimes against humanity.
A UN report published on Monday alleges that Guinean soldiers massacred at least 156 protesters in a Conakry stadium last September. Hundreds of others were wounded and soldiers also systematically raped women and young girls.
Social and political chaos
The European Union responded on Tuesday by toughening sanctions against the junta by imposing a freeze on all funds and economic resources known to belong to its members.
The bloc also banned any supplies to Guinea of equipment that could be used for purposes of internal repression.
Camara took power in a bloodless coup early on December 23, 2008, just hours after the announcement of Conte's death from an illness.
When they seized control, the putschists justified their action by saying they would fight "generalised corruption, impunity as a method of government and anarchy in the apparatus of the state" after Conte's 24-year reign.
But a year later, Guinea is plunged into economic, social and political chaos.
Most of the population wants the military to quit power and people fear further violence after the stadium bloodbath. The junta has banned street demonstrations and most opposition leaders have fled abroad.
- SAPA