Conakry: Guinea raised security levels in the capital Conakry on Friday, residents said, after junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was wounded in an attack carried out by his own soldiers.
The incident underlined the fragility of the West African nation, which is the world`s top exporter of the aluminium ore bauxite and whose stability is seen as vital to its neighbours.
"The government can offer the assurance that the situation is under control," a junta official said on state television after the violence flared late Thursday.
"President Moussa Dadis Camara was slightly wounded. Very fortunately, his life is not in danger," said the official, reading from a statement.
Residents said gunshots rang out across the city as the incident took place, but calm was restored and soldiers deployed to guard strategic points including main thoroughfares as part of a heightened security alert.
The attack happened as UN investigators in Conakry wound up their inquiry into a September 28 crackdown by security forces on pro-democracy protesters in which more than 150 protesters were killed and scores of women raped, according to witnesses.
The statement named Camara`s former aide de camp Lieutenant Aboubacar "Toumba" Diakite as behind the attack on Camara.
Toumba is cited by witnesses and human rights groups as a leading figure in the September crackdown, for which junta leaders could face international prosecutions.
"There is no doubt this is linked to the investigation," a diplomat said of the incident.
"This was the only way out for him (Camara)," the diplomat added of the theory that Camara would seek to implicate Toumba for the September 28 killings and so remove any burden of blame from himself.
Communications Minister Idrissa Cherif said Toumba had been located somewhere in the capital and added: "Those who orchestrated this insurrection will be punished."
Camara came to power in a bloodless coup last December after the death of strongman Lansana Conte. He initially promised to allow a transition to civilian rule but has since delayed elections and refused to hand over power.
Bureau Report
