Guinean president voices backing for Morocco's World Cup soccer bid

President Lansana Conte of Guinea on Thursday voiced his country's backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 soccer World Cup finals.

"Guinea will be on top of African nations backing the Moroccan bid," President Conte told a Moroccan delegation that visited Guinea as part of a 15-nation tour to sway African backing to the Moroccan bid.

Driss Benhima, who heads the delegation, handed the Guinean president a message from King Mohammed VI.

Morocco is competing with South Africa, Germany, England and Brazil to host the planetary event. The world football governing body, FIFA, will select the host country next July.

For his part, Guinean Prime Minister Lamine Sidime told the Moroccan delegation that the centuries-old ties binding Rabat and Conakry make it a duty for Guinea to back the Moroccan bid.

The Moroccan delegation had previously visited Tunisia, Senegal and Mali, where it got clear expressions of support from the highest authorities.