By Saliou Samb
CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinea's army will support whoever wins next month's presidential election and will crush elements that try to derail the vote, the head of the West African country's armed forces said.
The junta-led government is preparing for a June 27 election some fear could turn violent but which marks its best chance at emerging from decades of harsh authoritarian rule.
"There should be no disruption, no violence. In the case of a problem, we will subdue it," Colonel Nouhou Thiam, chief of Guinea's armed forces, said late on Wednesday during a meeting with political leaders. "The army will be at the disposal of the candidate who wins the elections".
The head of Guinea's military-led government, General Sekouba Konate, earlier this week set up a special elections security unit made up of police and soldiers.
A force from West African regional bloc ECOWAS will also be on the ground during the vote, according to the United Nations. >>>
