Aide admits shooting Guinea leader

Aide admits shooting Guinea leader

Camara remains in hospital in Morocco, where he was treated following the attempt on his life [File, EPA] A former aide to Moussa Dadis Camara, Guinea's military leader, has confessed to shooting the West African president out of fear that he would be blamed for a bloody crack down on a pro-democracy rally. Lieutenant Aboubacar "Toumba" Diakite told Radio France International (RFI) on Wednesday: "I shot him because at a certain point, there was a complete betrayal in my view, a total betrayal of democracy." "He tried to blame me for everything that happened on September 28," Toumba said, referring to a military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators which witnesses say left more than 150 people dead. Human rights groups have named Diakite as one of the commanders most responsible for the massacre. Hunted Diakite was speaking from an undisclosed location and remains in hiding. IN DEPTH Background: Tensions in Guinea Camara: A man of the people? "I will not turn myself in because they do not want the truth to be known. They'd prefer to kill me," he told RFI. The failed December 3 assassination attempt, which left Camara in hospital in Morocco with gunshot wounds to his head, has left Guinea close to political crisis. His continued stay at the hospital has led some to speculate that he has been incapacitated. General Sekouba Konate, Guinea's defence minister and Camara's second in command, has taken charge in Camara's absence and has led the search for Diakite. Massacre investigated It is unclear how many of the roughly 150 men formerly under Diakite's command remain loyal to him. Camara seized power in December 2008 following the death of Lansana Conte, Guinea's long-time ruler, promising he would hand over to a civilian government in a vote in which he would not participate. He later hinted that he would stand for election, triggering the September protests. Last month's assassination attempt took place as UN officials in Guinea were investigating the massacre. The world body is due to issue a report later this month on who was responsible for the killings.

Source: Agencies