Guinea's junta makes army arrests

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The new military leadership in Guinea has made a series of arrests, including some senior military officers, in the past few days, military sources say.

There has been no official statement, but some army officials have said that those detained include the former army chief of staff and a former navy chief.

They have also said that several relatives of the late President Lansana Conte are being held.

Capt Moussa Dadis Camara led a military coup after Mr Conte's death last month.

He has pledged to hold elections within a year, and to work to stamp out corruption and improve living standards.

One of his first acts was to force the retirement of more than 20 top army officers, including former army chief of staff Gen Diarra Camara and former navy chief Admiral Ali Daffe.

The wave of arrests began on Saturday and the detainees are now being held at military headquarters in the capital, Conakry, military sources have said.

While some of Guinea's neighbours have signalled their readiness to work with the new rulers, the African Union has suspended Guinea from membership.

The United States has halted most of its monetary aid.

More than a third of the world's bauxite reserves are in Guinea, making it the second-largest producer internationally. It also has large reserves of gold, diamonds, iron and nickel.