Malian President in Conakry to mediate in post-poll crisis
Conakry, Guinea – Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure Thursday arrived in Conakry to mediate in the post-electoral crisis in Guinea.
Toure was received by his Guinean counterpart, General Sekouba Konate, with whom he held a meeting at the airport, prior to their departure for the Cases de Bellevue (Guest House) for another meeting.
The Malian President is visiting Guinea at the invitation of Konate, said a diplomatic source.
Konate had threatened to resign when he was slammed Monday by activists of the Union of Republican Forces (UFR), who accused him of having disqualified their leader, Sidya Toure, for another candidate, before they rudely called him names during a demonstration on the streets of Conakry.
This is Toure’s third visit to Guinea since the December 2008 coup, following the death of President Lansana Conte.
He will meet with the 24 candidates who ran for the 27 June presidential election and with officials of the National Transitional Council (CNT) and religious leaders.
The Malian leader declared to have received prior to his visit, phone calls urging him to persuade Konate to carry on his mission.
Several missions have been conducted by diplomats accredited to Guinea to persuade Konate not to resign following the allegations, including charges that he falsified the poll results.
The second round of the presidential poll will hold 19 July, featuring the candidate of the Union of the Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), Cellou Dalein Diallo, and that of the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha Conde, who came first and second respectively in the first ballowing.
Diallo polled 39.72 per cent, while his rival polled 20.67 per cent of the vote cast.
GUINEA OYE! 