Guinea leader survives assassination attempt
Leader of Guinean military junta survives apparent assassination attempt by former aide
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Friday, 04, Dec 2009 10:54
By Matthew Champion.
The leader of the Guinean military junta that assumed power in a bloodless coup last December has survived an apparent assassination attempt by his former aide.
Moussa Dadis Camara, who holds the rank of captain, is understood to have sustained non-fatal wounds in the shooting at a military base in the capital Conakry.
Ministers have blamed the head of state's former aide Aboubacar Diakite as being personally responsible for the shooting.
"When you pull a gun on someone, is it your intention to scare him? No. Your intention is to kill him," said communications minister Idrissa Cherif.
An announcement on state television by Keletigui Faro, secretary general of the presidency, said Capt Camara was "slightly hurt during an unfortunate incident".
The attack took place in a base loyal to Mr Diakite, who has a powerful personal militia that has left Capt Camara fearful of a coup.
Mr Diakite has been blamed within the Guinean government for a crackdown in September on demonstrators that led to the deaths of 157 people and scores of women being drugged and gang-raped by soldiers.
The massacre led to sanctions being imposed on Guinea, the world's largest exporter of bauxite - the raw material used in aluminium production -, and travel bans imposed on leading members of the junta.
Capt Camara assumed power in a bloodless coup last year following the death of president Lansana Conté. Promises made following the coup to hold elections have not yet materialised however.