West Africa's main regional bloc has imposed sanctions against the junta in Guinea and demanded they return the country to constitutional rule within six months, the president of the bloc's commission says.
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After an emergency summit of the Economic Community of West African States in Accra, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said they would freeze the financial assets and impose travel bans for junta members and their relatives.
"In six months elections should be held," Brou said at a briefing on Thursday, calling for the immediate release of President Alpha Conde, who was ousted in a military coup last week.
Regional leaders who took part in the summit hailed the tough measures agreed by the bloc to West and Central Africa's third coup since April.
The political turbulence has intensified concerns about a backslide towards military rule in a resource-rich but poverty-stricken region.
Coup leaders in Guinea have not said how long the transitional government will last, or who will lead it.
The junta led by Mamady Doumbouya, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, is holding consultations this week with various public figures, groups and business leaders in the country to map a framework for the transition.
As part of the four-day consultation, the junta on Thursday met Guinea's main business lobby and executives of mining firms operating in its bauxite, gold, iron ore and diamond sectors.
Australian Associated Press
