OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Guinea's opposition on Friday rejected a proposal that it join the ruling military junta in a transitional government and said it was considering abandoning mediation talks.
The breakdown came amid reports junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara -- vilified after a bloody crackdown on protesters in September in the world's biggest bauxite producer -- was tightening his grip on power by using foreign mercenaries to train an elite security force.
The opposition umbrella group "Forces Vives" said a plan presented by regional deal-maker and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore after talks with both sides ignored its demands that Camara and his ruling CNDD party be removed from power unconditionally.
"As a result, the Forces Vives delegation has taken the decision to reject the political draft agreement, such as it was submitted, and reserves the right, after consultations with headquarters in Guinea, to decide on its position on the mediation," the group said in a statement.
Junta officials had welcomed the plan, which calls for a transitional authority presided over by a junta member and a national unity government led by a prime minister from the opposition until a return to civilian rule in October 2010.
Insiders anticipated the opposition would refuse to share power after the Sept. 28 incident in which 157 people were killed by security forces in a Conakry stadium.
Camara took power last December in a bloodless coup after the death of strongman leader Lansana Conte. He promised a shift to civilian rule, but has seen his support crumble as his behaviour became increasingly erratic and he let slide a promise to opt out of future elections.
Camara and his junta allies have faced condemnation from African neighbors, Washington and Brussels, and were hit by travel bans, freezes on foreign bank accounts and an arms embargo. Keywords: GUINEA TALKS/OPPOSITION
(Reporting by Mathieu Bonkoungou; writing by Richard Valdmanis; editing by Tim Pearce; Dakar Newsroom +221 33 864 5076 For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com/)
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