The leader of Guinea's coup has said contracts for the country's vital mining industry will be reviewed and pledged to stamp out corruption.
Without naming firms, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara told a public meeting in Conakry that any contracts found to be "defective" would be revised.
Capt Camara took power after the death of President Lansana Conte on Monday.
A meeting between the junta and foreign envoys planned for Saturday has been postponed until next week.
The junta, which took over in a bloodless coup, has said it wishes to "reassure the international community" of its commitment to stamping out corruption and holding elections in 2010.
Its seizure of power was condemned internationally but Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has urged the world community to recognise the new leadership.
'No more looting'
Capt Camara addressed hundreds of public representatives, including trade unionists, politicians and clergy, at a meeting in his barracks, Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo, in what correspondents say was a charm offensive.
He outlined his view of the mining sector, which has attracted billions of dollars in investment from international firms.
"We have blocked the mining sector," he said. "There will be a renegotiation of contracts."
According to AFP news agency, he also suspended all gold extraction until further notice.
More than a third of the world's bauxite reserves are located in Guinea which also has large reserves of gold, diamonds, iron and nickel, and some uranium deposits.
Without naming names, Capt Camara vowed to eradicate corruption, saying: "It was the government officials who surrounded the [late] head of state who looted the country."
"Anyone found guilty of corruption will be punished," he added. "Anyone who has misappropriated state assets for his benefit, if caught, will be judged and punished before the people."
He also told those present that he was open to their "best ideas", including the choice of a new prime minister.
Meeting postponed
The coup leaders had been due to meet representatives from the UN, G8, European Union and African Union at 1200 GMT on Saturday but they postponed the meeting until Tuesday without explanation.
The US embassy in Conakry has called for an immediate return to civilian rule in Guinea, while France, which currently holds the EU presidency, also said a vote should be held soon.
South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe has said the junta must step down and hold elections immediately.
President Wade, however, publicly backed the coup, telling French radio: "My feeling is that this group of military men deserves support. We should not throw stones at them."
The coup appears to have been welcomed by many within the country, the BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says.
Sick and tired of despotic rule under the former president and his hugely corrupt government, Guineans are pinning their hopes on the military, our correspondent says.
On Friday, tens of thousands of Guineans and presidents from the neighbouring states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast attended the funeral of President Conte in Conakry.
Conte, who died aged 74, was later buried in front of his mansion in the village of Lansanaya, some 120km (75 miles) north-west of the capital.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
1 min -
CBG records GH¢1bn revenue in Q3
4 mins -
Mahama vows to create an agro-processing zone in Afram Plains
18 mins -
Political parties should plan for losses, not just wins – IGP advises
19 mins -
524 Diasporan Africans granted Ghanaian citizenship in ceremony
21 mins -
Mahama urges Afram Plains North residents to avoid ‘skirt and blouse’ voting
23 mins -
Asantehene receives more 19th century gold ornament and regalia
30 mins -
Hohoe Ghana Blind Union organises training for members ahead of Election 2024
36 mins -
Alan Kyerematen reveals his future plans for Ghanaian Health professionals
37 mins -
AAIN empowers women and small enterprises in Upper East Region through SHINE project
38 mins -
Akufo-Addo leads nationwide commissioning of 80 educational projects
45 mins -
Ghana and Seychelles strengthen bilateral ties with focus on key sectors
1 hour -
National Elections Security Taskforce meets political party heads ahead of December elections
1 hour -
Samsung’s AI-powered innovations honored by Consumer Technology Association
2 hours -
Fugitive Zambian MP arrested in Zimbabwe – minister
2 hours