Guinea's president plans third term

Conteh has run the show for nearly 20 years

Guinean Head of State General Lansana Conteh has said he would support a referendum to change the constitution to allow him a third term in office.

The 1992 constitution, which ushered in multi-party democracy after 26 years of former President Sekou Toure's dictatorship, limits the presidential mandate to not more than two five-year terms.

Such a decision can and will only be made by Guineans not foreigners

President Conteh

Mr Conteh was elected as a civilian president in 1993 after he had served 10 years as the country's military head.

The opposition alliance, Codem, has accused Mr Conteh of wanting to be president for life.

'Right to say yes'

In a banquet to mark the country's 43rd independence anniversary, he urged MPs, members of civil society groups and other interested parties, to work towards a referendum to be held by the end of October.

"Such a decision can and will only be made by Guineans and not foreigners or international institutions," the president said.

He added: "It is only Guineans that have the right to say yes or no to this".

The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Conakry says he received thunderous applause from his audience composed mainly of government ministers and supporters from his Party for Unity and Progress - but some diplomats were also present.

Blocked bids

Our correspondent says his statement was clearly targeted at the international community, which has sought to block other third term bids by African presidents.

He adds that although many people he contacted on Wednesday say this marks the president's bowing to his party's desires, the official opposition alliance Codem, has long accused him of masterminding such a campaign.

The ruling party had in June began their discussion on the referendum to extend the presidential term.

This was followed by a rally of thousands of PUP supporters calling for a third term.

Armed dissidents

In July the opposition alliance protested with demonstrators shouting slogans like "no to presidency for life".

The opposition leader Professor Alpha Conde was detained soon after the last election for allegedly fleeing the country with what the government called subversive documents.

He has since been released.

The security situation in Guinea has been tense since armed dissidents began attacking and killing people inside the country.

The government has accused Charles Taylor, president in neighbouring Liberia, of supporting the Rally for Democratic Forces of Guinea. Liberia denies this claim.

Mr Conteh has also blamed the thousands of refugees from the civil wars in both Sierra Leone and Liberia for helping the armed dissidents, and has asked them all to leave.