Guinean President Awake and Mentally Alert After Assassination Attempt

RABAT, Morocco – Guinea's foreign minister says the country's hospitalized president is now alert and in possession of his mental faculties after a failed assassination attempt, though there is no set date for his return.

On Friday, Camara was airlifted to a hospital in Morocco after being wounded in an assassination attempt by the head of his presidential guard. He was operated on for cranial trauma at the military hospital.

Alexandre Cece Loua told the press on Monday that he had spoken with Guinean President Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara in the hospital and his condition was "encouraging." Earlier Monday, Loua had told France's RFI radio that Camara could not communicate but that he recognized his entourage.

Loua denied reports out of Guinea that the president's return was imminent.