Guinea appoints civilian PM

Guinea’s military junta appointed a veteran opposition leader as the country’s new prime minister, in a crucial step that sets the stage for the military to cede power to civilians in elections within the next six months.

Jean-Marie Dore is an outspoken critic of junta leader Captain Moussa “Dadis” Camara and was brutally beaten by his soldiers when he helped lead a demonstration calling for an end to military rule.

The appointment came as General Sekouba Konate, who persuaded Camara to step aside and accept a transition to civilian rule, returned to the capital Conakry amid extremely tight security.