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Military 'seizes power' in Guinea Military 'seizes power' in Guinea
(40 minutes later)
A Guinea army statement has announced the dissolution of the government and suspension of the constitution, hours after President Lansana Conte's death. A Guinea army statement has announced the dissolution of the government, after President Lansana Conte's death.
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.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".
But civilian leaders said it was unclear if the coup had succeeded. But Guinea Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare said the government "continues to function as it should".
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. And National Assembly Speaker Aboubacar Sompare, the constitutional successor, told French television there had been an attempted rebellion but he did not think all 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. 'Long illness'
He earlier declared 40 days of national mourning for President Conte, who had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984. He announced earlier that President Conte, who ruled the West African country with an iron fist for 24 years, had died after a "long illness". Forty days of national mourning have been declared.
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. The precise circumstances of his death are unknown, but Mr Conte was a chain-smoker and 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 years of conflict and there are fears any unrest there could spread and embroil the sub-region in fighting once more.
'Deep despair'
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," 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 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.
"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".
"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.
'Stay at home''Stay at home'
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". Only hours after the announcement of the president's death, a junior army officer went on state radio to say the army had taken over, and a body called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) set up.
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 href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797371.stm">Fear in Guinea at army takeover Lansana Conte seized power in 1984 and won three controversial elections href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797015.stm">Obituary: Guinea's Lansana Conte
"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."
Capt Camara, who is head of the army's fuel supplies unit, said an interim council would be set up to root out corruption and organise fair elections.
Announcers said the officer 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 Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp "to guarantee their security". It also ordered people not to loot and to stay at home.
"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. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7797371.stm">Fear in Guinea at army takeover
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." African Union peace and security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra told the AFP news agency: "If the army coup is confirmed, it is a flagrant violation of the constitution and of African legality."
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.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.
Vehicles checked
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.
Oppressive rule Despite Guinea's mineral wealth, it is one of West Africa's poorest nations
According to the constitution the National Assembly speaker should be in charge until a presidential election is held within 60 days.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 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. The BBC's Will Ross says many analysts had predicted the army would try to take over following Mr Conte's death because he had been increasingly relying on it to shore up his oppressive rule.
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. General Conte came to power in 1984 at the head of a military coup to fill the vacuum 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 unclear 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. Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its eight million people are among the poorest in the region.
Last year, more than 150 people were shot dead by the police and the army when demonstrators took to the streets calling for change.
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.