The visit was not officially explained, but diplomats in the capital Conakry said Obasanjo was set to meet Guinean President Lansana Conte and explain his withdrawal of support for the Liberian rebel group LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy), which has been fighting the regime of President Charles Taylor.

Obasanjo was expected to leave Conakry later Sunday.

The governments of Guinea and Liberia have been trading accusations for some years that the one has been supporting movements hostile to the other.

The Guinean government said last month it was happy to hear that Taylor had been indicted by a UN court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On arrival here Obasanjo drove to the presidential palace to meet Conte, Obasanjo was met on arrival at the airport by Moussa Solano, the Guinean minister for territorial administration and decentralisation.

Conte makes only sporadic appearances outside his native village because of a diabetic condition.

Last week, Taylor, who has been indicted by a court in Sierra Leone for war crimes committed in that country's civil war, accepted an offer of asylum in Nigeria.

But he has refused to step down from power until an international peace force arrives to restore order in his country.

WAR.WIRE