Arrests follow Guinea coup attempt

Authorities in Guinea have arrested at least 37 people following a failed coup attempt earlier this week against President Alpha Conde, the country’s first democratically elected leader.

Gunfire and rockets hit the home of Conde early on Tuesday morning threatening the life of the president who took power in elections late last year before loyal troops repelled the attackers.

The US condemned the assassination attempt.

“The Guinean people fought long and hard for the right to choose their leader and have a representative government. Overthrowing a democratic government through force is unacceptable. These violent acts undermine democracy and the rule of law and threaten the stability of the region,” said a State Department spokeswoman.

Dozens of suspects have been rounded up, many of them members of the military juntas that ruled Guinea between the death of long-term leader Lansana Conte in 2008 and the election of Conde in 2010.

Reports say that a former army chief and a member of the presidential guard as well as a bodyguard and former minister are among those arrested.

Observers say that relations between Conde and the military have soured since his election as he has sought to downsize the army and reign in its powers.