Guinea opposition shuns probe

2009-11-03 22:39

Conakry - Guinea's opposition have shunned a new commission of inquiry created on Tuesday by the country's ruling junta to investigate a massacre by the army on September 28.

Of the 23 commission members announced by the head of the military regime, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, only 16 were sworn in on Tuesday before the head of the supreme court and three members of the government.

The leaders of the main opposition grouping, the Forces Vives, in Ouagadougou for discussions with Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, rejected calls from Camara for fresh talks.

Compaore was named mediator in Guinea last month by his west African peers, after the country was plunged into strife following the massacre of more than 150 people who had rallied to persuade Camara not to stand in elections he announced for January.

Identifying authors of the crime

Aboly said the aim of the commission was to "find and identify the authors of the crimes committed on September 28 and the following days, in the stadium on September 28 and in other places in the capital, with the aim of bringing them to justice".

The commission, announced by Camara on national radio and television Monday, is to include six judges, three lawyers, two law professors, two doctors, two people from non-governmental groups, a human rights group representative, two people from political parties and five foreign figures.

The Forces Vives, made up of opposition parties, trade unions and civil and human rights groups, boycotted an initial commission of inquiry set up by Camara in October.

Announcing the new commission on Monday, Camara said he had no intention of undermining the work of a separate UN investigation into the events of September 28.
 

- AFP