Guinean election dates proposed

CONAKRY, Guinea, March 14 (UPI) -- Officials in Guinea have called for national elections by the end of the year to replace the army officers who took power in a coup last year.

BBC reported Saturday that if military leaders agree, legislative elections would be held in November and a presidential election the following month.

The British network noted that Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara seized power when President Lansana Conte, who had ruled since 1984, died.

Camara's National Council for Democracy and Development has promised to hold free and fair elections by 2010.

The election proposal came ahead of the United Nations-backed monitoring organization International Contact Group's visit to the country Monday.

BBC said Guinea is suspended from the West African regional bloc Ecowas until elections are held.