Guinea’s Military Leader Refuses to Step Down

Guinea’s ruling junta has rejected opposition demands for its leader, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, to stay away from a new transitional government being pushed for by regional countries.

During mediation talks in Burkina Faso, the junta’s representatives instead warned that the country could end up in war if Camara were to step down.

Opposition parties have however insisted that for the mediation talks to succeed the military leader must leave power.

The opposition claims that over 150 people were killed and women raped as Camara’s soldiers sought to contain a pro-democracy demonstration in the Guinean capital Conakry on September 28.

The military administration has denied the figures, insisting that less than 60 people died during the protest.

The military government is facing international criticism after the killings amid pressure on Captain Camara to step down.

So far, the West African regional grouping, ECOWAS, has imposed an arms embargo on Guinea and the United States has banned Camara and several other top leaders of his military government from entering its borders.

Guinea was also suspended from the African Union immediately after the bloodless coup that brought Camara into power last December, just hours after the death of longtime President Lansana Conte. [GR]