26 December 2008
Lagos — The late Guinean President, Lansana Conte who died early this week after 24 years in office was yesterday buried in his village, Lansanaya, some 120 kilometre (75 miles) north-west of the capital.
Presidents from the neighbouring states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast attended the funeral ceremonies of Conte, who was 74.
Earlier in the day, a service was held in the country's national stadium for Conte, after which his coffin was paraded around the capital and later taken to the parliament building.
The new military leaders in the country declared yesterday a national holiday to allow Guineans attend the funeral.
The late president seized power in a coup 24 years ago. His death after 24 years in office triggered a military coup in Guinea.
Meanwhile, the leader of the coup, Capt. Moussa Camara has been reaching out to international leaders. Capt. Camara met diplomats for talks in the capital yesterday.
In a statement read on national radio, Captain Camara invited representatives from the UN, G8, European Union and African Union to a meeting this weekend.
Despite condemnation from the international community, the coup appears to have been welcomed by many within the country.
Sick and tired of the despotic rule under the former president and his hugely corrupt government, Guineans are said to be pinning their hopes on the military.
The deposed Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and many within his cabinet have also endorsed Camara's move, as well as older sections of the military.
The rebels also said they would hold separate talks today with leaders of Guinea's political parties and civil society groups.
Captain Camara, a junior army officer, declared himself president and head of the junta's new National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) on Wednesday.
On Thursday, he said the new 32-member ruling council replacing the government and other institutions would hold "free, credible and transparent elections" in December 2010, when late Conte's presidential term would have ended.
Observers say if he sticks to that promise, he would be bucking a trend in Africa.
"The council has no ambitions to hold on to power. The only reason is the need to safeguard our territorial integrity. That is the only reason. There is no ulterior motive," Captain Camara promised.
Capt. Camara also 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.
But the US embassy in Conakry called for an immediate return to civilian rule in Guinea, saying the junta's announcement that elections would not be held for two years was unacceptable.
France, which currently holds the EU presidency, also said a vote should be held soon.
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