Guinea coup leader vows to fight corruption

GUINEA: Guinea’s coup leader declared a zero tolerance policy on corruption Saturday, vowing to renegotiate the country’s numerous mining contracts and warning that anyone who embezzles state funds will be executed.

Capt. Moussa Camara also extended an apparent concession to Guinea’s opposition, telling them they could help choose a prime minister following international criticism that elections are not planned for two more years.

On a concrete stage inside the barracks from where he launched his rebellion Tuesday, Camara jabbed his finger at the sky as he swore to do away with the corruption that has drained the mineral-rich state’s coffers.

“For the person who embezzles money, there won’t be a trial. They’ll be killed,” he said as the crowd went wild. “I was born in a hut. I walked to school. ... Money means nothing to me.” Guinea is the world’s largest producer of bauxite, the raw material used to make aluminum, and also produces diamonds and gold. Yet its mineral wealth was siphoned off to enrich the country’s longtime ruling clique.

Conakry, Sunday, AP