Alleged Coup Plot Puts Guinean Army on High Alert

Alleged Coup Plot Puts Guinean Army on High Alert

State media in Guinea say military leaders have put the army on high alert after learning of an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

An official statement read on television said Captain Moussa "Dadis" Camara took the measures after learning that fighters in neighboring countries were planning to attack Guinea. It said the fighters are financed by drug traffickers who have fled Guinea to avoid arrest.

The report did not say where the government was getting its information.



Camara seized power in December just hours after the death of longtime dictator Lansana Conte. The military leader quickly suspended the constitution and dismissed the civilian government.

He won public support by vowing to crack down on corruption and drug trafficking.

But critics such as Human Rights Watch have accused Camara's forces of restricting political activity and arbitrarily arresting and beating people.