Funeral set for Guinea president
Coup leader promises a lavish funeral for president who ruled for 24 years.
“I saw the body. It’s not been treated. It leaves you to think we don’t have a single ice room in all of Guinea.”
Conte’s body is to be moved to a stadium in Conakry, the capital, and subsequently the Grand Mosque, before being buried in a village.
The 74-year-old’s death on Monday initiated upheaval in the West African nation, which he had overseen with strict rule for 24 years.
Hours after Conte’s death was revealed on Tuesday a group from within the military staged a coup and the prime minister went into hiding.
Camara declared himself president a day later and secured the support of Ahmed Tidiane Souare, who “surrendered” to the ruling military.
The coup leaders had ordered the government and military heads to give themselves up within 24 hours on Thursday.
Presidential elections had been promised by the group within 60 days, but Camara said on Wednesday that they would not be organised until 2010.
The new leader plans to lead a 32-member National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), consisting of 26 military officers and six civilians.