The army captain who has declared himself president of Guinea following a bloodless coup said Thursday that the old year was ending on "a note of hope."
In a television "address to the nation," Moussa Dadis Camara said that the junta's action had allowed the west African nation to avoid "chaos" and "ethic warfare."
"The day after General Lansana Conte died, the army decided to take power so that the country could avoid tumbling into ethnic warfare," he said.
"The chaos which would have ensued if power fell into the hands of a so-called constitutional successor -- the parliament speaker who represents only himself since his mandate expired months ago -- would have had incalculable consequences."
Camara added that he was "committed to creating the basis for a true democracy to flourish" and reiterated his pledge to hold "free and transparent elections" by the end of 2010.
Source: AFP Global Edition
