CONAKRY — Sanctions slapped on Guinea's junta following a murderous assault on opposition supporters will be "very difficult" to lift ahead of a new president being elected, Germany's ambassador said Friday.
"It will be very difficult to lift these sanctions against the people directly or indirectly responsible for the September 28 massacre before a new president is elected and installed," the ambassador Karl Prinz told reporters.
The German diplomat was speaking in Conakry following talks with Guinea's interim leader, General Sekouba Konate.
Konate met Prinz along with the ambassadors of France, Spain and the United States as the military leadership seeks to build up international goodwill ahead of the polls, promised within six months.
"We will try to have our experts take up this dossier which also concerns Guinea's most important partners -- the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank," Prinz said.
The EU decided last month to toughen sanctions against the west African state's military rulers, which the UN has accused of crimes against humanity for the September 28 massacre of opposition supporters at a Conakry football stadium.
Troops opened fire on the rally, killing at least 156 people and subjecting more than 100 women to rape or other sexual violence, according to a United Nations inquiry.
The military rulers this week appointed opposition figure Jean-Marie Dore as interim prime minister tasked with leading the country into presidential elections in six months.
Prinz welcomed Dore's appointment and said: "We would hope that the transition begins as soon as possible, and that the government is also formed as soon as possible."
Konate took over after Camara was shot and wounded in the head on December 3 by an aide
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