Guinean opposition leader wants elections

CONAKRY, Guinea, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Guinean opposition leader says a pledge by the country's new military rulers to hold elections within two years is too long to wait.

Sydia Toure, leader of the Union of Republican Forces party, says that because Guinea is a poor country, it needs to move quickly toward elections to get the support of international financial institutions, the Voice of America reported Monday.

"We made a communication Thursday of this declaration to the CNDD (the ruling National Council for Democracy and Development) telling them that we think that two years is too long, and we hope that we can have new presidential elections within one year in Guinea," Toure said. "We are working on the electoral issues, and we think that if everything can be done from now to April or May, I think we can have elections in September."

Military leaders took over the country last week following the death of President Lansana Conte.

Guinea's former colonial power France, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the European Union, has also reportedly called on the new military rulers to hold elections within six months, VOA said.