afrol News, 5 January - Guinea's ruling military junta has pledged to hold elections by the end of 2009, the France secretary of state for cooperation, Alain Joyandet, announced.

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, leader of the National Council for Democracy and Development seized power on 23 December 2008 after the death of President Lansana Conte who ruled the country for more than two decades.

Mr Joyandet who traveled to Guinea’s capital Conakry, on 3 January held talks with Mr Camara, and other stakeholders, said the army Captain has vowed to hold elections within 12 months.

Mr Conte, who died last Month, at the age of 74, had ruled Guinea for almost 25 years, since taking power in a military coup in 1984.

Mr Camara also pledged not to stand in those polls, according to the French secretary of state for co-operation, further stating that France has offered to help Guinea to organise this year’s polls.

Captain Camara previously said he would organise elections by the end of 2010 when President Conte's term of office would have expired.

Local media reports from Conakry said the United States and European Union, have demanded a return to constitutional rule, while the African Union has suspended Guinea's membership.

The military junta which has seen little criticism from both local and other international donor agencies has claimed that the coup was largely accepted by the locals including some of its neighbours.

The late Guinean leader, had been assumed dead on many earlier occasions, as his multiple illnesses often prevented him from appearing in public. It was believed he suffered from leukaemia, but officials had only admitted his strong diabetes illness.

While Mr Conté ruled Guinea with an iron hand, allowing no real opposition, the country remained an island of relative stability in an otherwise troubled region, where brutal war ravaged neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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