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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Guinea: Army dissolves government after president's death |
| 2008-12-24 |
| (AKI) - The Guinean army has overthrown the country's government and suspended the constitution, just hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. The 74-year-old President Lansana Conte died after a lengthy illness. In a state radio statement on Tuesday, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara said a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders called the 'National Council for Development and Democracy' would be established. "As of today, the constitution is suspended as well as political and union activity," Camara said in his statement. "The government and the institutions of the republic have been dissolved." Camara also announced a military official would be installed as president of the West African country. Conte, who had been the leader of Guinea for 24 years, died in the capital, Conakry. His health had been an issue of national debate for years. Conte seized power after the death of former president Sekou Toure in 1984. He was then elected in 1993 after the country's first presidential election, and then re-elected in 1998 and 2003 amid reports of widespread electoral fraud by the opposition. Prime Minister Ahmed Souare called for 'calm and restraint' and announced 40 days of mourning. The President of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare asked the country's Supreme Court to name him president. Sompare appeared on state television with Souare announcing the death of the president. 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. Guinea, a former French colony gained independence in 1958. It has a population of 10 million people, made up of at least 24 ethnic groups, 85 percent of whom practise Islam as their religion. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 For a second there I didn't see the Guinea part of the headline. Go Army! |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2008-12-24 20:44 |
| #2 Zimbobway's tomorrow. more regression to the jungle. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-12-24 13:37 |
| #1 What? they don't have a vice-president? |
| Posted by: Rednek Jim 2008-12-24 13:30 |