Unions call off strike in Guinea

Unions call off strike in Guinea

	Published : Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:28 By : Agencies Print this Story

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) - Guinea's powerful union chiefs called off a crippling strike Sunday after the president agreed to appoint a new prime minister in an attempt to end simmering unrest that has killed scores of people this year.

One of the country's two main union chiefs, Rabiatou Serah Diallo, said Sunday that union officials proposed five names for the post and President Lansana Conte was expected to choose one of them.

Ibrahima Fofana, another union leader, said the strike would end at midnight Sunday but that Monday should be a day of prayer for the more than 100 people killed in political violence this year, mostly during clashes with security forces.

Strikes this year have crippled the economy, shut down the port and forced up prices for key commodities. The country of 10 million is deeply impoverished despite having half the world's supply of bauxite -- the raw material of aluminum -- as well as iron ore, gold and diamonds.

The unions have complained of economic problems and demanded salary increases and arrears of months of unpaid wages. Recently, they have become more political, saying the country's hardships are symptoms of a corrupt government that neglects its people.

After a strike in January turned bloody with security forces firing on demonstrators and killing dozens, Conte agreed to appoint a new prime minister with increased powers who many hoped would force the president to step down.

Conte was supposed to name a consensus premier but instead named a close ally who union leaders rejected immediately. The post of prime minister had been vacant since Conte fired Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo in April.

Angry youths then took to the streets again as strikes resumed Feb. 12, and Conte responded by imposing martial law the same day. The move included a curfew, roadblocks and military searches across the country for two weeks.

The government ended the so-called 'state of siege' Friday after lawmakers, in a rare show of dissent, unanimously rejected the president's request to extend it.

In talks late Saturday, Conte told a Nigerian mediator that he was ready to appoint a new premier and asked his opponents to propose five names for the post, said Ousman Bah, a protocol official at parliament. Diallo said the five names were relayed to the mediator, who was expected to meet Conte again later Sunday.

Bah said Conte would select one of the five by March 2.

Bordering on Sierra Leone and Liberia -- both recovering from wars -- as well as Ivory Coast -- divided by its own conflict -- Guinea is seen as a potential flashpoint in an already precarious region. For years, regional experts have warned that Conte's death or ouster could send the country into turmoil.