LAGOS, Nigeria -- Guinea's military ruler Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara was flown to Morocco for medical treatment on Friday, a day after he survived an apparent assassination attempt, dealing another blow to the stability of the tiny, mineral-rich nation in West Africa.

Guinea's ruling military junta, the National Council for Democracy and Development, placed troops at the airport and throughout the capital city, Conakry, according to Western diplomats. CNDD officials said the situation was under control.

Moussa Dadis Camara is followed by his aide de camp Toumba Diakite at the Martyrs Square in Conakry in October.

Capt. Camara was flown out of Guinea on a plane provided by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, according to a senior aid worker who has spoken with diplomats in Conakry.

Government officials said Capt. Camara was shot by Abubakar "Toumba" Diakite, the commander of the presidential guard and a former top aide. President Compaore, who has been leading international mediation efforts to quell Guinea's political crisis, said Capt. Camara would need an operation to treat his wounds, Reuters reported.

Officials in Guinea and Morocco couldn't be reached to comment on Capt. Camara's condition.

Capt. Camara, who took power in a bloodless coup about a year ago, has vowed to step down in favor of democratic elections. But this summer the military leader indicated he may remain in power, triggering prodemocracy protests that, in turn, led to a crackdown and more than 100 deaths. A team of United Nations investigators arrived in Guinea this week to conduct an investigation into the September violence.

The attempt to kill Capt. Camara further muddies the country's political picture. Like Guinea's past leaders, he had struggled to bring the military under government control. The injury from the assassination attempt raises doubts about how quickly he can return to Guinea, if it all, and who will rule in his absence.

Western diplomats say the most recent violence has so far been limited to intragovernment fighting. A large security presence has been seen around the airport in Conakry. The U.N. had placed security at the borders so foreign fighters couldn't enter Guinea, Western diplomats say.

"The United States is deeply concerned about the general breakdown of security in Conakry and urges the government of Guinea to work toward a peaceful resolution of the political situation through the establishment of a civilian-led transition government leading to democratic elections," the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A17