Conakry: Guinea's new military rulers were endorsed by the deposed prime minister on Thursday, but condemned by the United States which demanded an immediate return to civilian rule.

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare said he and other members of the government overthrown after the death of President Lansana Conte earlier this week were ready to work with the coup leaders in the West African country.

"Mr. President, members of the National Council for Democracy and Development, we thank you and we put ourselves at your disposal," he told junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, in comments broadcast by Radio France International.

Camara was chosen on Wednesday as leader of Guinea, the world's biggest exporter of aluminum ore bauxite, but he said he would not stand for president in elections promised in two years.

The United States said the military must work with civilian leaders to swiftly restore civilian rule.

"The United States condemns the military coup in Guinea. We reject the announcement by elements of the Guinean military that elections will not be held for two years, and we call for an immediate return to civilian rule," the U.S. Embassy in Conakry said in a statement.

"The human rights of all citizens must be respected, particularly those of Prime Minister Souare and the members of his government," it said.

Earlier on Thursday Souare and several of his ministers reported to the Alpha Yaya Diallo military base in the capital's suburbs, as instructed by the junta, which late on Wednesday replaced regional chiefs appointed by the late President Lansana Conte with military commanders.

Mining operations have not immediately been affected but analysts say foreign commodities firms may be targeted as sources of cash by the new rulers.

"I do not have the ambition of being a candidate at the presidential elections," Camara said in comments broadcast by Radio France International.

"I have never had the ambition of power."

Guinea's civilian leader, National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare, who under the constitution should have taken over as interim head of state, has appealed to the international community to prevent the coup from succeeding.

Source : Reuters