Several hundreds of soldiers backing Camara paraded into streets to show strength. They were cheering Camara, who joined them in different areas of the capital, on and screaming "Long live the president!" said reports.

The coup came after radio broadcast from the Guinean capital of Conakry on Tuesday said President Lansana Conte had died after long-time illness.

Camara announced the dissolving of the government and the constitution on radio, saying a consultative body of civilian and military members would soon be created.

The coup planners have said in a statement read on state radio that they will hold credible and transparent elections for the end of December 2010.