The Guinean government has declared a three-day national mourning, starting Monday, following the death of the country's army chief, General Souleymane Kelefa Diallo, in a helicopter crash in Liberia, official sources announced here Monday.
General Diallo and 10 other passengers, including five other army officers, died when their chopper crashed as they were making their way to a military airport in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. They were scheduled to participate in a military parade there.
As a mark of honour, the Guinean flag will fly at half mast during the mourning period, the sources said.
A military communiqué issued shortly after the crash, said General Namory Traore, the deputy army chief of staff, will replace General Diallo as head of the Guinean army.
General Diallo himself replaced, in 2010, General Nouhoum Thiam who is currently being detained for an attempted coup against President Alpha Conde.
Pana 12/02/2013