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Military seizes power in Guinea Military 'seizes power' in Guinea
(30 minutes later)
Guinea's army has announced it has dissolved the country's government and suspended the constitution, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. A Guinea army statement has announced the dissolution of the government and suspension of the constitution, hours after President Lansana Conte's death.
An army captain said on state radio a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders would be set up. The African Union has condemned the move. An army officer said on state radio a "consultative council" of civilian and military chiefs would be set up. The EU and African Union condemned the move.
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. But civilian leaders said it was unclear if the coup had succeeded.
The precise circumstances of the president's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes. The National Assembly Speaker Aboubacar Sompare, the constitutional successor, told French television there had been an attempted rebellion but he did not think the whole of the military was behind it.
Guinea's Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare, meanwhile, said in a state broadcast the government had not been dissolved and "continues to function as it should", according to AP news agency.
He earlier declared 40 days of national mourning for President Conte, who 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 was a chain-smoker and a diabetic. It is also believed he had been suffering from leukaemia.
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.
Guinea's premier, who declared 40 days of national mourning, later reportedly said the government had not been dissolved.
Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare said in a state broadcast he was speaking from his office and that his government "continues to function as it should", according to AP news agency.
'Deep despair''Deep despair'
Only hours after the speaker of parliament announced that President Conte had died after a "long illness", Capt Moussa Dadis 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 National Assembly speaker announced that President Conte had died after a "long illness", a junior army officer 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," said Capt Moussa Dadis Camara. "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 ConteLansana 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. It will be led by a president," 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. It will be led by a president," he added.
"This council will be in charge of supervising and guaranteeing the transition, in order to restore the authority of the state, fight corruption, and organise free and transparent elections.""This council will be in charge of supervising and guaranteeing the transition, in order to restore the authority of the state, fight corruption, and organise free and transparent elections."
Capt Camara said the country was in a state of "deep despair".Capt Camara said the country was in a state of "deep despair".
"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.
'Stay at home''Stay at home'
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 Alpha 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".
Soldiers have set up check-points along the main roads into the city centre, but so far there have been no reports of them being heavy-handed or harassing people BBC correspondent Alhassan Sillah, Conakry Fear in Guinea at army takeoverSoldiers have set up check-points along the main roads into the city centre, but so far there have been no reports of them being heavy-handed or harassing people BBC correspondent Alhassan Sillah, Conakry Fear in Guinea at army takeover
"Public assemblies are formally forbidden," it added."Public assemblies are formally forbidden," it added.
The African Union told the AFP news agency it was "keenly monitoring" developments in Conakry.The African Union told the AFP news agency it was "keenly monitoring" developments in Conakry.
The 53-member bloc's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, said: "If the army coup is confirmed, it is a flagrant violation of the constitution and of African legality which absolutely forbids unconstitutional changes of government."The 53-member bloc's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, said: "If the army coup is confirmed, it is a flagrant violation of the constitution and of African legality which absolutely forbids unconstitutional changes of government."
Former colonial power France - in its capacity as the current holder of the European Union's rotating six-month presidency - said it would oppose any attempted putsch in Guinea and called for free and transparent elections.
The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in the capital, Conakry, said soldiers have set up check-points along the main roads into the city centre, but so far there have been no reports of them being heavy-handed or harassing people.The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in the capital, Conakry, said soldiers have set up check-points along the main roads into the city centre, but so far there have been no reports of them being heavy-handed or harassing people.
Vehicles are checked briefly and waved through, he says.Vehicles are checked briefly and waved through, he says.
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.
Chain smoker 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. According to the constitution the National Assembly speaker should be in charge until a presidential election is held within 60 days.
Despite Guinea's mineral wealth, it is one of West Africa's poorest nations Many 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 nations Will Ross says many 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.
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 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.
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.