UN condemns Guinea army crackdown

The UN has condemned a military crackdown in Guinea that has left at least 128 people dead.

Security forces opened fire on an opposition rally at a sports stadium near the capital Conakry. Thousands of people had gathered to protest against the military regime of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, which seized power in a coup last year. ‘‘The people of Guinea want Dadis to leave. It’s not about being a candidate but the departure of Dadis. He must go and we’ll demand that until he quits,’‘ said one opposition supporter. ‘‘Freedom has to be won. Democracy is taking shape today. We are building a real democracy in our country and we’ll stay mobilised,’‘ another said. Former colonial power France has also condemned the military response in the mineral rich African state, in what it described as violent repression. Eyewitnesses claimed several prominent opposition leaders were arrested and protesters wounded. Dadis Camara took charge after President Lansana Conte died last December. Enjoying initial support a series of crackdowns, attacks on mining companies and the likelyhood he will run for the presidency in 2010 have fuelled instability.

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