The arrest of several army officers in Guinea is not linked to elections due in two weeks' time, the army chief has said.

几内亚陆军参谋长称，最近几起陆军军官逮捕事件与两周后的选举无关。

Col Nouhou Thiam said the detentions¹（拘留，延迟） were over allegations of financial impropriety（不适当，不正确） .

Several of those detained were close to the former military ruler, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, who was shot in the head in an assassination² attempt last year.

The army has promised to step down after the poll on 27 June.

The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Conakry says the arrests had led to wild rumours³ circulating in the capital.

But Col Thiam now says the officers were picked up following the publication of an internal audit⁴ report（内部审计报告） on the armed forces that implicated⁵ them in the alleged⁶ misuse⁷ of funds running to tens of thousands of US dollars.

Col Thiam said the management of the funds had been "opaque⁸（不透明的） ".

"You know, when you're managing the funds of others, you have to keep and show accounts," he told French radio.

"In the Guinean army, we grew used to embezzlement⁹（挪用，盗用） , we have accused our elders of financial mismanagement, and now that transparency rules, we need to show accounts."

A junta¹⁰（团体，派别） has ruled Guinea since the death of long-time leader Lansana Conte in December 2008.

Interim¹¹ junta leader General Sekouba Konate took over in December 2009 from Capt Camara, who is currently in voluntary exile in Burkina Faso.

Guinea is a country rich in mineral wealth, although its people are among the poorest in the world.