The United States called on Tuesday for free and transparent elections in Guinea, and said it was suspending aid to the country being ruled by military junta, Xinhua reported.
"The United States remains concerned about the military coup in Guinea. We support the efforts of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to speed the transition to civilian rule," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.
"We reiterate our call for a return to civilian rule and the holding of free, fair and transparent elections as soon as possible," said the spokesman, adding that "The United States is suspending assistance to Guinea, with the exception of humanitarian aid and programs supporting the democratic process."
Under an agreement signed this September by the Bush administration and the Guinean government, the United States would offer some 12 million dollars to reinforce democratic governance in Guinea through the organization of free and transparent elections, as well as other measures.
The agreement is to bring the total USAID contribution for the period 2006-2008 to more than 43 million dollars for its bilateral program in support of the mine-rich country.
The legislative elections in Guinea was expected to be held in early 2009.
Guinea's military carried out a sudden coup and seized power of the country on December 23, 2008, hours after the government announced the death of President Lansana Conte, who had ruled Guinea since taking over in a coup himself in 1984.
Moussa Dadis Camara, a junior army officer who led the coup, declared himself "President of the Republic" one day after the coup. The Camara-led military junta also named a prime minister.
The African Union has suspended Guinea's membership to press for "the return to constitutional order in that country." Meanwhile, the ECOWAS has voiced its zero tolerance for the coup, mulling a sanction against Guinea ruled by the military junta.