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| Africa Subsaharan | ||
| Senegal leader backs Guinea coup | ||
| 2008-12-27 | ||
Mr Wade became the first head of state to publicly back the coup, which has been condemned internationally but supported by many Guineans. "My feeling is that this group of military men deserves support. We should not throw stones at them," President Wade told France's Radio France Internationale in Paris. He said he had had a telephone conversation with Capt Camara, describing him as a "perfectly honest" man. And despite the junta's earlier statements that new elections in Guinea would be held in December 2010, Mr Wade said Capt Camara "spoke of eight months". Capt Camara earlier said he had no intention of standing in the elections and that he wanted to restore order to the country and rid it of corruption. The US embassy in Conakry has called for an immediate return to civilian rule in Guinea, while France, which currently holds the EU presidency, also said a vote should be held soon. South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe has said the junta must step down and hold elections immediately. Guinea's two main opposition groups have also urged the coup leaders to stage polls in a year's time. Despite condemnation from the international community, the coup appears to have been welcomed by many within the country. Sick and tired of despotic rule under the former president and his hugely corrupt government, Guineans are pinning their hopes on the military, the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says. The deposed Prime Minister, Ahmed Tidiane Souare, and many within his cabinet have also endorsed Capt Camara's move, as well as older sections of the military.
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| Posted by:Steve White |