Mutinous Guinean soldiers launched a coup attempt yesterday in the West African bauxite exporter hours after the death was announced of long-serving President Lansana Conte, a senior official said.

"There is an attempted coup d'etat," National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare, who under the constitution should take over as interim head of state, told French TV station France 24.

"I don't think all of the army are behind the mutineers ... It's a group," he added, speaking from his home in the capital Conakry.