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Guinea Arrests 100 Soldiers

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Guinea Arrests 100 Soldiers
Guinea Arrests 100 Soldiers

Government officials say the detained soldiers are allies of presidential guard chief Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, who is suspected of being behind the recent shooting of military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

Guinea's military government says it has arrested about 100 soldiers as it investigates the shooting of military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

Government officials say the detained soldiers are allies of presidential guard chief Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, who is suspected of being behind last Thursday's shooting.

Diakite, who is known as "Toumba," is still at large.

Meanwhile, a top Guinean military official has made his first public appearance since taking over government affairs while Captain Camara recovers from head wounds in a Moroccan hospital.

General Sekouba Konate appeared on state television late Wednesday meeting with soldiers and urging them to be disciplined and united.

Konate is Guinea's defense minister.

There are fears in Guinea that a power struggle may break out while Captain Camara recovers.

Captain Camara's medical condition remains unclear, although government officials say he is doing well.

On Wednesday, the government suspended crisis talks with opposition groups until Captain Camara returns home. One opposition leader accused the government of withdrawing from the talks to stay in power longer.

Opposition groups have called for Captain Camara and other military leaders to step down. Before the December 3 shooting, the junta said Captain Camara must be part of any transitional government.

Captain Camara was apparently shot during an argument with Diakite over who should take responsibility for the killing of dozens of opposition protesters in Guinea's capital, Conakry, on September 28.

Captain Camara seized power in Guinea last December, after the death of longtime President Lansana Conte.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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