Guinea junta secures takeover despite international sanctions looming

(Update 1: adds info on international sanctions)

Dakar, Sep 7 (EFE).- The military junta that carried out the coup d’etat in Guinea-Conakry on Sunday continued to secure its hold on power Tuesday after being endorsed by the political opposition force, despite the threat of international sanctions.

Guinea’s opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo announced he supports the military coup that overthrew the country’s president Alpha Conde this week.

Despite Diallo’s endorsement, the coup has been condemned by a large part of the international community.

The junta in charge risks being sanctioned by organizations like the African Union (AU) or the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which tend to impose sanctions on anti-constitutional grabs of power.

The African Union announced on Sunday it will take “appropriate” measures, whilst the ECOWAS demanded a return to constitutional order and threatened to slap sanctions on the country otherwise.

The international organizations are expected to announce potential sanctions on Wednesday (ECOWAS) and Thursday (AU).

Diallo, leader of the National Alliance for Change and Democracy (ANAD), said that he agreed with the principles announced by the coup plotters, who call themselves the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), according to local media in the West African nation.

“The CNRD can count on the support of ANAD in the effort to build a peaceful democracy in our country,” Diallo said during a late-night public appearance.

He also urged the coup plotters to place a priority on setting up “legitimate institutions capable of carrying out reforms that can quickly lead the country to national reconciliation and the establishment of the rule of law.”