Nairobi/Conakry- Guinea's military junta has arrested three former ministers, including a former prime minister, reports said Tuesday.

Ahmed Tidiane Souare, who was prime minister when the military took over in December, and two former mine ministers have been detained, unnamed sources told the BBC.

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power at the end of December following the death of strongman president Lansana Conte, who had been in power since 1984.

Camara's regime has arrested many former officials, among them Conte's son, who admitted to smuggling cocaine.

Guinea was suspended from the African Union following the coup and will remain so until polls promised for 2010 take place.

After seizing power, Camara temporarily suspended mining and said he would examine all contracts.

As part of an apparent policy of getting tough with mining companies, Camara last week shut down AngloGold Ashanti's gold mine in Guinea after a member of its management failed to attend a meeting to discuss problems in the industry.

However, AngloGold Ashanti Tuesday said it was re-commencing production.

"We were able to meet with the president and had a constructive discussion that allowed us to re-open," Joanne Jones, a spokeswoman for the company, told German Press Agency (dpa)