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| Military seizes power in Guinea | Military seizes power in Guinea |
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| Guinea's army has announced that it has dissolved the country's government and suspended the constitution, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. | Guinea's army has announced that it has dissolved the country's government and suspended the constitution, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. |
| In a state radio statement, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara said a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders would be set up in their place. | In a state radio statement, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara said a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders would be set up in their place. |
| All ministers and other top officials have been summoned to the main military camp "to guarantee their security". | All ministers and other top officials have been summoned to the main military camp "to guarantee their security". |
| Mr Conte had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984. | Mr Conte had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984. |
| The precise circumstances of the president's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes. | The precise circumstances of the president's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes. |
| BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is important to see whether the army is united on the way forward for Guinea, as a power struggle could be extremely dangerous given the deep ethnic divisions there. | BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is important to see whether the army is united on the way forward for Guinea, as a power struggle could be extremely dangerous given the deep ethnic divisions there. |
| Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after many years of brutal conflict, and there are fears that any unrest there could spread across the borders and embroil the sub-region in fighting once more. | Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after many years of brutal conflict, and there are fears that any unrest there could spread across the borders and embroil the sub-region in fighting once more. |
| Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare earlier appealed for "calm and restraint" and declared 40 days of national mourning. | Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare earlier appealed for "calm and restraint" and declared 40 days of national mourning. |
| "I call on the defence and security forces to assure the security of our borders and calm inside national territory in homage to the memory of the illustrious late leader," he said. | "I call on the defence and security forces to assure the security of our borders and calm inside national territory in homage to the memory of the illustrious late leader," he said. |
| 'Deep despair' | 'Deep despair' |
| Only hours after the speaker of parliament announced that President Conte had died after a "long illness", Capt Camara went on state radio to say that the army had taken over, and a body called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) set up. | Only hours after the speaker of parliament announced that President Conte had died after a "long illness", Capt Camara went on state radio to say that the army had taken over, and a body called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) set up. |
| "As of today, the constitution is suspended as well as political and union activity," he said. "The government and the institutions of the republic have been dissolved. | "As of today, the constitution is suspended as well as political and union activity," he said. "The government and the institutions of the republic have been dissolved. |
| Lansana Conte seized power in 1984 and won three controversial elections Obituary: Guinea's Lansana Conte | Lansana Conte seized power in 1984 and won three controversial elections Obituary: Guinea's Lansana Conte |
| "In the next few days, a transitional consultative council will be set up made up of soldiers and civilians taking account of ethnic balance," he added. | "In the next few days, a transitional consultative council will be set up made up of soldiers and civilians taking account of ethnic balance," he added. |
| The council will then name a military leader as president and a civilian as prime minister. | The council will then name a military leader as president and a civilian as prime minister. |
| Capt Camara said the country was in a state of "deep despair" and that it was vital that something was done to improve the economy and combat corruption. | Capt Camara said the country was in a state of "deep despair" and that it was vital that something was done to improve the economy and combat corruption. |
| "The institutions of the republic have shown themselves to be incapable of resolving the crises which have been confronting the country," he said. | "The institutions of the republic have shown themselves to be incapable of resolving the crises which have been confronting the country," he said. |
| Announcers said the captain, who is head of the army's fuel supplies unit, was speaking on behalf of the entire military, although this has not been independently confirmed. | Announcers said the captain, who is head of the army's fuel supplies unit, was speaking on behalf of the entire military, although this has not been independently confirmed. |
| A later statement by the CNDD told ministers to present themselves at the Alfa Yaya Diallo military camp, "in order to guarantee their security", and ordered the population to "stay at home and refrain from all acts of vandalism and looting". | A later statement by the CNDD told ministers to present themselves at the Alfa Yaya Diallo military camp, "in order to guarantee their security", and ordered the population to "stay at home and refrain from all acts of vandalism and looting". |
| Where I am is unusually quiet save for the noises of passing vehicles and there are very few BBC correspondent Alhassan Sillah, Conakry | Where I am is unusually quiet save for the noises of passing vehicles and there are very few BBC correspondent Alhassan Sillah, Conakry |
| "Public assemblies are formally forbidden," it added. | "Public assemblies are formally forbidden," it added. |
| The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in the capital, Conakry, said there is little sign of troops on the streets. | The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in the capital, Conakry, said there is little sign of troops on the streets. |
| "Where I am is unusually quiet save for the noises of passing vehicles and there are very few," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "Where I am is unusually quiet save for the noises of passing vehicles and there are very few," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "I've not seen one single child in school uniform and nor have I seen those women who should be going to the market as of now." | "I've not seen one single child in school uniform and nor have I seen those women who should be going to the market as of now." |
| Earlier, the leader of the Union for the Progress of Guinea and the secretary of the opposition alliance, Frad, Jean-Marie Dore, called for a peaceful transition of power: | Earlier, the leader of the Union for the Progress of Guinea and the secretary of the opposition alliance, Frad, Jean-Marie Dore, called for a peaceful transition of power: |
| Veteran opposition leader Alpha Konde returned to Guinea on Sunday after 15 months of self-imposed exile in France. He left Guinea after being released from jail. | Veteran opposition leader Alpha Konde returned to Guinea on Sunday after 15 months of self-imposed exile in France. He left Guinea after being released from jail. |
| The African Union's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, told the AFP news agency that it was "pre-occupied and keenly monitoring" the developments in Conakry. | The African Union's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, told the AFP news agency that it was "pre-occupied and keenly monitoring" the developments in Conakry. |
| "We urge all the political and other state institutions in Guinea, especially the armed forces, to ensure a constitutional, peaceful and consensual transition that respects democratic order," he said. | "We urge all the political and other state institutions in Guinea, especially the armed forces, to ensure a constitutional, peaceful and consensual transition that respects democratic order," he said. |
| Oppressive rule | Oppressive rule |
| Will Ross says that according to the constitution, National Assembly Speaker Aboubacar Sompare should be in charge until a presidential election is held within 60 days, but what appears to be a coup d'etat has changed that. | |
| Despite Guinea's mineral wealth, it is one of West Africa's poorest nationsMany analysts had predicted that the army would take over following Mr Conte's death because he had been increasingly relying on it to shore up his oppressive rule, our correspondent says. | Despite Guinea's mineral wealth, it is one of West Africa's poorest nationsMany analysts had predicted that the army would take over following Mr Conte's death because he had been increasingly relying on it to shore up his oppressive rule, our correspondent says. |
| President Conte, a diabetic and chain smoker, had been ill for several years. Although it was never officially revealed, he was believed to have been suffering from leukaemia. | President Conte, a diabetic and chain smoker, had been ill for several years. Although it was never officially revealed, he was believed to have been suffering from leukaemia. |
| He came to power in 1984 at the head of a military coup to fill the power vacuum that had been left by the sudden death of his predecessor, Sekou Toure, who had been president since independence from France in 1958. | He came to power in 1984 at the head of a military coup to fill the power vacuum that had been left by the sudden death of his predecessor, Sekou Toure, who had been president since independence from France in 1958. |
| He eventually oversaw a return to civilian rule and was elected three times, although critics said the votes were never free or fair. | He eventually oversaw a return to civilian rule and was elected three times, although critics said the votes were never free or fair. |
| As his health declined over the last five years, it was often far from clear who was in charge and the government barely functioned, our correspondent says. | As his health declined over the last five years, it was often far from clear who was in charge and the government barely functioned, our correspondent says. |
| Some political parties were allowed to operate, but many opposition leaders were either intimidated by the authorities or jailed. | Some political parties were allowed to operate, but many opposition leaders were either intimidated by the authorities or jailed. |
| Last year, more than 150 people were shot dead by the police and the army when demonstrators took to the streets calling for change. | Last year, more than 150 people were shot dead by the police and the army when demonstrators took to the streets calling for change. |
| A further four people were killed following protests in the suburbs of Conakry in November, according to Human Rights Watch. | A further four people were killed following protests in the suburbs of Conakry in November, according to Human Rights Watch. |
| Although Guinea's mineral wealth and fertile soil makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its eight million people are among the poorest in the region. | Although Guinea's mineral wealth and fertile soil makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its eight million people are among the poorest in the region. |