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France warns of civil war in Guinea

By Babs Odukoya
25 December 2009   |   6:11 am
GUINEA could face a civil war if the country's military leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, returns home, France's Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, has said. Kouchner told French MPs on Wednesday that Moussa Dadis Camara should remain in Morocco where he is in hospital after an assassination attempt. Earlier, the European Union toughened its sanctions against Guinea. It froze the assets of members of the military government and banned European companies from exporting equipment that could be used for state repression.

The number of Guineans covered by a travel ban imposed in October, when the EU also brought in an arms embargo, has also nearly doubled.

The move followed a leaked UN report on Monday which said that Capt Camara should be charged with crimes against humanity over the killing of more than 150 opposition protesters at a stadium in September.

It said the coup leader bears “direct criminal responsibility” for the killings.

Earlier this month, Capt Camara, who came to power a year ago after the death of long-time leader Lansana Conte, was shot and wounded by one of his own soldiers on 3 December.

He was flown to Morocco for treatment and has not yet returned to Guinea – fuelling rumours that he was seriously injured.

“I hope that Mr Dadis Camara stays in his bed in Morocco and does not return home as his return would be capable of triggering a civil war that we really don’t need,” Kouchner told the French parliament.

But a senior Guinean diplomat told the AFP news agency that the junta hoped Capt Camara would be back soon.

“He is doing better and intends to return to Conakry as quickly as possible,” said Mamadouba Diabate, Guinea’s ambassador to Morocco.

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