Courtesy: BBC news.
 
I encourage the AU's peer review commission and ECOWAS to assist La Guinea effect travel bans on former government officials who may travel to other African countries in an effort to evade summons. It may be valuable to send a representative of either AU, Ecowas, or the peer review commission to participate in La GUinea's commission of inquiry and for the CNDD to extend such invitation to these bodies. I also encourage the EU, La Guinea's development partners, and the UN to participate in this democratic process in La Guinea. It is not valuable to simply condemn and suspend. These bodies must also enhance their own integrities by actively supporting the principles upon which suspensions and knee-jerk condemnations are based. They are encouraged to deport or ban from entry into their domains, any official who is or may be subject to La Guinea's commission of inquiry.
 

Guinea calls corruption hearings

Military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara
Moussa Dadis Camara seized power after Lansana Conte's death last month

Guinea's new military government has summoned several ex-ministers and business leaders to appear before a commission investigating graft claims.

Some 14 people, including the former ministers for sport and finance and the ex-chief of protocol under the late president, have been called.

The hearings are due to be held in the capital Conakry at a military barracks.

Army Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power last month when President Lansana Conte, who had ruled since 1984, died.

The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Conakry says the inquiry is seen as President Camara's first concrete steps to stamp out corruption, as he promised when he took over the mineral-rich West African country in December.

Travel bans

Former Finance Minister Ousmane Dore has been summoned to account for $5m (£3.6m) which was allocated for the country's 50th independence anniversary last year.

Ex-Sports Minister Baidy Aribot will be quizzed over how nearly $15m (£11m) funding for the national football team's participation in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana last year was spent.

Our correspondent says the inquiry involving the former state chief of protocol is perhaps the most eye-catching.

Idrissa Thiam, who is believed to have left the country several months ago, has been summoned to explain the whereabouts of $40m (£30m) of funding.

State radio said on Wednesday night that the 14 were banned from travelling outside the country until investigations were complete.

Failure to adhere to this, the announcement added, would lead to property being confiscated.

Earlier this month, the military junta announced a government in which soldiers will hold the defence, security, finance and justice ministries. No political parties' representatives were included.

President Camara's National Council for Democracy and Development has promised to stand down and hold elections by 2010.

Guinea is to remain suspended from both the African Union and the West African regional bloc Ecowas until the polls are held.

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