20091211

CONAKRY (Reuters) - A swift crackdown on rogue elements in Guinea's military by Defence Minister Sekouba Konate has restored some order and offered cautious hopes that the West African nation will not tip further into chaos for now.

The veteran fighter, known as El Tigre for his ferocity on the battle field, stepped into a power void left in the mineral-rich nation last week after junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was shot by his own soldiers and evacuated to Morocco for medical treatment.

Since temporarily taking the reins, Konate has directed a violent purge of rogue elements in the military -- centred on those believed to have been sympathetic to the assassination bid -- and toured army bases giving speeches on military discipline.

"In the capital Conakry, security forces are actively searching for the author and accomplices of the attempted assassination of the president," said Foreign Minister Alexandre Cece Loua during a press conference Thursday.

"It is an issue of national security."

Despite sometimes brutal tactics, Konate's swift action on the army has sparked cautious hope among residents that his efforts could bring an end to the decades of violence they have suffered at the hands of belligerent and unruly soldiers.

"He wants to restore military discipline. If he succeeds, it will greatly help this country," said Ousmane Sylla, a student. "If he fails, it will be a catastrophe for civilians."

Guinea is the world's top supplier of aluminum ore bauxite and is seen as a lynchpin of stability in a region recovering from three civil wars this decade.