Guinea junta targets regime loyalist

CONAKRY, Guinea - Dozens of soldiers supporting last week's coup in Guinea forced their way into the compound of a close confidant of the country's late dictator yesterday, the official said, in a show of force against a powerful figure in the previous regime.

The heavily armed men burst through a gate and demanded that Mamadou Sylla hand over the keys to several SUVs allegedly stolen from the government, Sylla said. It was the second time the military junta has use intimidating force in dealing with key supporters of strongman Lansana Conte, whose death last week touched off the coup.

The raid occurred just hours after the African Union froze Guinea's membership in the continentwide bloc, threatening further sanctions if the junta doesn't restore constitutional order.

The AU said it was giving the coup leaders six months to restore constitutional rule. "We will not accept that the coup d'etat sticks in Guinea," said AU Chairman Patrick Sinyinza.

The 44-year-old Captain Moussa Camara, who led the coup one week ago after the death of strongman Lansana Conte, has won overwhelming public approval. His popularity is rooted in the promise that he will hold democratic elections and publicly punish those who stole goods or money from the state. For the past 24 years, Guinea's state coffer has been repeatedly pillaged by officials loyal to Conte.

But the junta could be criticized for tactics it is using, such as the armed raids on Sylla's compound yesterday and the home of one of Conte's powerful generals on Sunday.

Sylla said he handed over the keys to the six new SUV vehicles that the soldiers claimed had belonged to the state. But he said his company, Futurelec S.A., had been contracted to provide the military with over 150 cars.

While he did not explain why the six cars had not been delivered, he said the coup leaders should have called him rather than raid his compound.

ASSOCIATED PRESS