Guinea arrests over 'coup plot'

Moussa Dadis Camara has said he will not stand for election

Two army officers in Guinea have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, security sources told the BBC.

The arrests were made as new military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was preparing to make his first trip out of Guinea since seizing power in December.

He led a bloodless coup after the death of Lansana Conte, who had ruled the West African country since 1984.

A BBC correspondent says the head of state was already at the airport when his trip to Libya was cancelled.

State television later announced that the minister charged with constitutional reform was on his way to Libya, deputising for Capt Camara.

Intermittent gunfire

The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Conakry says more armed soldiers than usual are on the streets of the capital and road blocks have been set up in the administrative sector.

Intermittent gunfire was heard in some areas of town on Thursday, he says.

The two alleged coup plotters - Captain Saa Alphonse Toure and Captain Abdoulaye Keita - have been transferred to a detention centre at Kassa, an island just off the shores of Conakry, our reporter says.

Earlier this week, Capt Camara said he would not contest elections later this year, having last week insisted he had the right to stand as a candidate.

He gave the assurance following a visit from Mohammed Ibn Chambas, president of the regional grouping Ecowas.

After their meeting, Mr Chambas said a timetable for elections had been agreed with legislative polls to be held in October, and the presidential vote in December.

More than a third of the world's bauxite reserves are in Guinea, but its people are among the poorest in West Africa.