October 18th, 2009
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Abuja, that the outcome of the consultations would determine ECOWAS's next action.
More than 100 people were reportedly killed in Conakry on Monday when soldiers opened fire on a rally, called by the opposition, to stop the country's military leader, Captain Moussa Camara, from contesting election as president in January.
The ECOWAS Commission had on Tuesday called for an international committee of inquiry into the killings.
Dr Adrienne Diop, Director of Communications at the Commission, said ECOWAS strongly condemned the act and called for the release of all those arrested during the protest.
The International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G), had recently expressed concern over the country's deteriorating political and human rights situation.
The ICG-G had also called on Camara to reaffirm in writing that he would not be a candidate in the election.
Diop reiterated the commitment of ECOWAS to work within the framework of the ICG-G for a peaceful and lasting solution to the problem.
Camara seized power in December 2008 after the death of President Lansana Contre.(NAN)
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for "strong sanctions by the African Union and ECOWAS" against Guinea.
"This despicable act calls for strong sanctions by the African Union and ECOWAS," he told NAN in a telephone interview from Tokyo.
"It is horrifying that in this day and age when the African Union has outlawed military governments and promoting democracy and good governance, 157 defenceless people will be gunned down in a country on the continent.
"This is a black spot on Africa and particularly, West Africa, which calls for strong condemnation."
Obasanjo is in Tokyo to attend a three-day conference on Africa and Globalisation which opened on Tuesday.
Former President John Kufuor of Ghana and former President of AU Commission Alpha Konare are also attending the conference.
Source: Leadership (Nigeria)