December 30, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 01,1430

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 29: The African Union on Monday suspended Guinea after a military coup in the west African nation.

“The African Union decides to suspend the participation of Guinea in the activities of the African Union until the return of constitutional order in that country,” the pan-African body said in a statement.

The west African country’s suspension from the continental body had been expected since the Dec 23 military coup.

Junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara and his military backers seized power after the death of long-serving president Lansana Conte, provoking widespread condemnation.

Guinea’s temporary exclusion from the AU was decided during a meeting of the body’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis Ababa, where the organisation is headquartered.

The junta has so far ignored international calls to relinquish power and allow for a democratic transition process. On Sunday, it consolidated its grip by retiring several senior army officers loyal to the late president.

“Some people are saying that the people there have welcomed the coup d’etat but that’s a different debate,” said Patrick Sinyinza, Zambia’s ambassador to AU and current chair of the Peace and Security Council.

“The constitution has to be the basis” of any settlement, he continued.

“But what is positive is that the commission has decided to continue to engage with the coup leaders to see whether they can bring the country back to the constitutional format,” he added.

Guinea’s constitution stipulates that the speaker of the national assembly will act as interim president until fresh elections are held within two months: but the junta leaders have said polls will not be held for another two years.

Ramtane Lamamra, the PSC commissioner, said if Guinean authorities were “comfortable with a slightly longer period of time,” that would be acceptable.

However, “we shouldn’t undermine the principle of coming back to the constitutional order as soon as possible,” he added.

Guinea’s strongman Conte died on Dec 22, after ruling the west African nation for 24 years. Soon afterwards military officers announced the dissolution of the government, launching the coup.—AFP