reliance is to gain traction among the general population, civil society organisations, press and labour unions need a real influx of donor money now." Conte sacked Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo last week just hours after rescinding a decree handed Diallo extra powers, though it is unclear whether Conte had signed the decree. "It does not matter which version is true -- both point to the fundamental decrepitude, verging on anarchy, at the centre of a government incapable of taking decisions except by decree of an individual who is fickle at best and may now not be fully competent to act," Crisis Group said. Jean Marie Dore, outspoken leader of one of Guinea's several opposition parties, urged the speaker of parliament on Monday to ask the supreme court to declare Conte unable to rule, meaning that under the constitution the speaker would assume power. Crisis Group said that if the speaker assumed power, the usual 60-day transition period should be extended until proper democratic elections could be held. A "national consultation" in March involving opposition parties and other groups called for an 18-month transitional government led by a neutral prime minister, and the creation of a fully independent electoral commission. Crisis Group backed the calls for a new electoral commission and urged the introduction of new photographic voter cards to prevent electoral fraud, and the revision of voter lists. "Inadequate voter cards and a powerless electoral commission" were major failings of last December's local elections, which were seen as a dry run for the next parliamentary or presidential polls, it said. The think tank recommended Catholic clergyman Robert Sarah, former Archbishop of the capital Conakry and now at the Vatican, be appointed to head a National Conference to continue the discussions begun at the March meeting. "His standing is as high among Guinea's approximately 85 percent Muslim majority as among Christians," the report said of Sarah, adding that permission should be sought from the Pope to allow him to undertake such a role.
