Guinea junta members join transitional government

By Saliou Samb CONAKRY, Feb 17

Guinea has expanded its transitional government, adding two leading military junta members accused of serious rights abuses and three civilians to a team meant to lead the nation to elections by mid-2010.

The nomination of two soldiers from the junta that has ruled Guinea since late 2008 is seen as aimed at keeping the military involved in the long-delayed transition to civilian rule.

But it also drew criticism as the two are accused of a litany of abuses and coincided with a visit by a team from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which may launch a formal investigation into a massacre of opposition members last September.

Junta members Captain Claude Pivi and Lt Col Moussa Tiegboro Camara, both of whom have been implicated to various degrees by reports into the killing of about 150 people on Sept. 28, were named ministers of state in a statement read on television on Tuesday.

Pivi remains in charge of presidential security while Tiegboro also keeps his job running the influential anti-drugs and criminality brigade.

They are joined by Almamy Kabele Camara, Cire Sangare and Mahmoud Conde, bringing to 39 the mix of civilians and soldiers charged with leading the top bauxite producing nation to its first elections since a coup by Moussa Dadis Camara in 2008.

Guineans and the international community are anxious for elections that would bring the west African country, which is important to regional stability, out of a year-long political crisis that has brought it isolation and economic damage.

The government named by Jean-Marie Dore, a veteran opposition leader who is serving as the interim prime minister, reflects the need to include a plethora of opposition parties and social movements, as well as the army, in the transition.

West Africa's regional body ECOWAS called the move to establish an interim government "a positive and critical step in the effort to restore constitutional order and end the crisis" and regional heads of state called for the timetable for elections within six months to be respected.

France said on Tuesday it had reestablished military and civilian cooperation with its former colony to express support for the process, which it said must move "very swiftly".

Pressure From Rights Groups

Coup leader Camara, who is convalescing in Burkina Faso after an assassination attempt in December, repeatedly reneged on promises to hold elections after he seized power following the death of long-time ruler Lansana Conte in December 2008.

The failed assassination led to Sekouba Konate, Camara's deputy, becoming interim president.

An ICC team arrived in Guinea late on Tuesday to establish whether there was the sufficient lack of will, or capacity, on behalf of the Guineans to investigate the Sept. 28 killing. If either are found, the ICC will launch an official investigation.

Corinne Dufka, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in West Africa, questioned the decision to appoint Pivi, who she said had a history of serious human rights abuses, and Tiegboro.

"What message does this send to the Guineans who have suffered so greatly from the impunity enjoyed by the Guinean security forces? This is an insult to the Guinean people."

"Neither (Pivi) nor Tiegboro, whose subordinates were implicated in the September 28 massacre, should be playing a leading role in the new government," she added.

-Reuters