The attack happened as U.N. investigators in the capital Conakry wound up their inquiry into the September crackdown, in which more than 150 protesters were killed and scores of women were raped by soldiers, according to witnesses.
The attack on Camara underlined the fragility of the West African country, which is the world’s top exporter of the aluminium ore bauxite and whose stability is seen as vital to its neighbours.
“An unfortunate incident has been provoked by the Lieutenant Aboubacar Diakite, alias “Toumba”,” a statement read out on state television said.
Diakite is Camara’s former aide de camp, widely cited by witnesses and human rights groups as a leading figure in the September violence.
“President Moussa Dadis Camara was slightly wounded. Very fortunately, his life is not in danger,” the statement said.
Separately, a witness in Conakry reported having seen Camara walking around at a military base after the attack.
A security source in Senegal said it had sent an aircraft to Conakry but did not say why. A junta spokesman declined to comment on whether Camara was to be evacuated out of Guinea to its neighbour.
Speaking by telephone, Communications Minister Idrissa Cherif said Toumba had been “located” after the incident.
“Those that orchestrated this insurrection will be punished,” he said.
Residents said gunshots rang out across the city as the incident took place, but calm was restored and soldiers deployed to guard strategic points, and main thoroughfares.
“What we are hearing is that they either arrested Toumba or were going to arrest him and he shot at Dadis. There is no doubt that this is linked to the investigation”, a diplomat said, rfering to the U.N. inquiry which began in late November.
Camara came to power in a bloodless coup last December after the death of strongman Lansana Conte. He initially promised to allow a transition to civilian rule but has since delayed elections and refused to hand over power.
His junta has been hit with international sanctions including weapons embargoes, visa bans and freezes on foreign bank assets.
