A few hours after the announcement of the death of Guinean President Lansana Conté, the army has announced the dissolution of the national constitution. At around 0730 UTC ths morning, about 100 soldiers arrived at the national radio station and took it over. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara made a statement on the air, in which he said that the country was in a state of “deep despair” and it was vital that there was an upturn in the economy and more was done to combat corruption.
Update 1715 UTC: The chief of the country’s armed forces, General Diarra Camara, has told French TV station France 24 that “I think they are in the minority … they are not the majority in the army.” Officials said negotiations were being held at the main Alpha Yaya Diallo military base in Conakry’s suburbs, between soldiers and officers who supported the coup and those who wanted to stay loyal to constitutional procedure.
- Listen to the radio statement (RFI recording)
