Guinea coup leader 'steps back'

Many see Capt Camara's absence as the best hope for Guinea Guinea's wounded leader Capt Moussa Dadis Camara has agreed to let his deputy lead the country while he recovers from an assassination attempt. In a statement, the military junta said Capt Camara, who is convalescing in Burkina Faso, would support the transition to civilian rule. Earlier, interim leader Sekouba Konate had threatened to resign in a row with supporters of Capt Camara. He had opened talks with the opposition while Capt Camara was in hospital. The announcement follow talks with Burkina Faso's president, who is mediating talks to resolve the country's crisis. The declaration said Capt Camara was "willingly taking a period of convalescence". According to AFP news agency, the junta leaders have also agreed to form a unity government followed by polls in six months. Capt Camara had been receiving treatment in Morocco following an assassination attempt by his former aide-de-camp on 3 December. When he left hospital on Tuesday, he reportedly thought he was going to Conakry, only to find himself in Burkina Faso. BBC West Africa correspondent Caspar Leighton says both the international community and the Guinean opposition see Capt Camara's absence as the best hope for an orderly transition to civilian, democratic rule. Earlier on Friday, Capt Camara's staunchest supporters were pressing for him to return to Conakry. But our correspondent said this seemed to push Gen Konate to threaten to resign and accuse Capt Camara's allies of wanting to start a war in Guinea. Capt Camara seized power in a coup in December 2008 after the death of long-time ruler Lansana Conte. At first he promised a return to civilian rule, but soon dropped hints that he would stand for president himself. That led to a pro-democracy rally on 28 September in the capital, Conakry, at which rights groups say more than 150 people were killed when the military opened fire. A recent UN report on the stadium massacre said Capt Camara should face trial at the International Criminal Court over the brutal suppression. Gen Konate has offered the post of prime minister to the opposition Source: BBC