Guinea Unions, Government Continue Talks Aimed at Ending Unrest
By VOA News 21 February 2007 |

Union leader Ibrahima Fofana, center, declines to speak to the press as he leaves a meeting with government representatives in Conakry, 20 Feb. 2007

Union and government officials in Guinea have entered a second day of talks aimed at ending a strike that has led to weeks of political unrest.

A union spokesman tells VOA that the two sides are meeting again in the capital, Conakry Wednesday after initial negotiations late Tuesday.

He also says the union has rejected a proposal to give Prime Minister Eugene Camara a so-called "trial period."

Camara is a close ally of President Lansana Conte. Unions resumed a general national strike nine days ago after Camara's appointment, saying the president reneged on a deal to name an independent politician in that post.

The leaders of Sierra Leone and Liberia were in Conakry Tuesday, where they urged President Conte to find a solution to the country's political crisis.

Officials say the leaders expressed fears that violence in Guinea could destabilize the region.

Two waves of violent anti-government protests and rioting in Guinea have left more than 100 people dead. President Conte imposed martial law last week to try to end the violence.

Unions initially began their strike in January to protest widespread poverty and alleged corruption in President Conte's government.

Mr. Conte has ruled Guinea since taking power in a 1984 coup.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.