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West African leaders impose arms embargo on Guinea
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 17 - 10 - 2009


West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS
on Saturday imposed an arms embargo against Guinea, accusing the
ruling military junta for "mass human rights violations" during
anti-government protests last month, Reuters reported.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also
threatened full sanctions on Niger if President Mamadou Tandja
does not take immediate steps to resolve the country's political
crisis.
International pressure has increased for Guinea's military
leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to step down after gunmen
used live rounds against protesters in a stadium on Sept. 28.
More than 150 people died and thousands more were wounded in the
incident, according to a local rights group.
The 15-member regional body said the violence in Guinea
posed a "real threat to the peace, security and stability of the
region."
"In view of the atrocities that have been committed ... the
authority decides to impose an arms embargo on Guinea under the
ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons," said the
communique at an ECOWAS heads of state summit in Nigeria's
capital Abuja. It was unclear how the group would enforce the
embargo.
The United States, France and the European Union have called
on Camara to resign and the International Criminal Court said
Thursday it was investigating the killings.
Amnesty International issued a statement this week calling
on the junta to free people swept up in a wave of arrests after
the Sept. 28 violence.
"All steps must be taken immediately to stop the spate of
killings of innocent Guineans who are yearning for immediate
restoration to constitutional order," said Nigeria President
Umaru Yar'Adua, who is also ECOWAS chairman.
The regional body appointed Burkina Faso President Blaise
Compaore to lead a mediation team to seek talks between Guinea's
political leaders to end the crisis.
West African leaders also raised concerns about the
political conflict in Niger, threatening full sanctions if
President Mamadou Tandja does not suspend legislative elections
next week.
The crisis in Niger pits Tandja, who won an August
referendum extending his time in power, against opposition
parties and civil society groups.
Some 10,000 people took to the streets of Niamey on
Saturday, calling for a boycott of parliamentary polls due to
take place on Oct. 20 and warned Tandja of the consequences of
not leaving office when his term ends later this year.
The president held a referendum in August to change the
constitution and give himself three more years in power.
"Tandja must leave power on Dec. 22 in order to avoid
trouble similar to those we saw in Guinea," said Bazoum Mohamed,
vice president of the opposition PNDS party, which has been
leading the anti-Tandja coalition.
"We demand that the elections are not held to allow a return
to constitutional order," he added.
There was a heavy security presence at the demonstration but
no reports of any violence.


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