Guinea junta names civilian prime minister

Guinea's ruling military junta today named banker Kabine Komara as the civilian prime minister of the West African bauxite exporter…

Guinea's ruling military junta today named banker Kabine Komara as the civilian prime minister of the West African bauxite exporter.

The National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), which seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte last week, announced the appointment of Komara, who had been working at the Egypt-based African Export-Import Bank.

"Kabine Komara, former administrator at Eximbank, is named Prime Minister," said a CNDD statement broadcast on state radio.

The CNDD, led by Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, has promised to hold elections in 2010, fight corruption and raise living standards, but while neighbouring Senegal has endorsed the new leadership, the international community has demanded a return to constitutional rule.

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Yesterday, the African Union suspended Guinea, and the United States and European Union have condemned the military takeover, though Camara's coup has met with little internal opposition.

CNDD leaders were due to meet foreign diplomats today.

International mining firms such as Rio Tinto, Alcoa and United Company Rusal have invested billions in Guinea, the world's biggest exporter of aluminium ore bauxite, a gold producer and potentially a major source of iron ore.

The CNDD has said it will review the state's contracts with mining firms, without naming any companies or details of the review.

Reuters