WRAP Guinea's dictator Lansana Conte dies, military spox announces coup

(23 Dec 2008) SHOTLIST
UNTV
FILE: New York - 24 September 1999
1. Lansana Conte, President of Guinea, walking into United Nations General Assembly, taking seat on the stage area
2. Conte seated on stage
3. Cutaway as Conte is introduced
4. Conte seated on stage
5. Conte stands, walks to microphones, begins address to UN General Assembly
6. Cutaway of officials
7. Wide side shot of Conte addressing General Assembly
AP Television
FILE: Conakry - 16 February 2007
8. Exterior of parliament, Palais du Peuple
9. Military officers outside parliament building
STORYLINE
A military-led group declared a coup in the West African nation of Guinea, on Tuesday announcing it had dissolved the government and constitution hours after the death of the country's longtime dictator.
The constitution calls for the president of the National Assembly to be sworn in as the country's next president.
The mineral-rich but impoverished nation of 10 (m) million has been ruled by only two men since it gained independence from France half a century ago.
On Tuesday, the group calling itself the National Council for Democracy began broadcasting its message at around 0730 local time (0730 GMT) on state-run radio and television.
A spokesman in a military uniform read the statement saying the government, including the constitution, courts and the parliament had been dissolved.
He did not state his name or rank.
A TV reporter identified the man as Captain Moussa Camara.
Earlier on Tuesday the president of Guinea's National Assembly said that the African nation's president, Lansana Conte, had died following a long illness.
Conte had ruled Guinea with an iron fist since grabbing power in a 1984 coup.
Officials did not disclosed his date of birth, but he was believed to be in his 70s.
National Assembly leader Aboubacar Sompare said on national television around 0200 local time (0200 GMT) on Tuesday that Conte had died on Monday evening.
He said he had long been suffering from health problems.
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