CONAKRY – Soldiers and police in Guinea were under orders to shoot anti-government rioters and looters on Wednesday as they searched homes for stolen firearms on the second day of martial law in the West African country.

The world's No. 1 bauxite exporter is under military authority after President Lansana Conte declared a state of siege to halt a wave of protests that accompanied the restart by unions on Monday of a general strike, the second this year.

Well over 110 people have been killed since early January in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters led by union bosses who say Conte, a reclusive, chain-smoking diabetic in his 70s, is unfit to rule.

The riots and labor stoppages have disrupted Guinea's strategic foreign-run production and shipments of bauxite, the ore from which aluminium metal is extracted.

Armed soldiers and police were out in force in the dilapidated seaside capital Conakry and upcountry towns to impose a stringent curfew restricting civilians to their homes all night and in the morning hours.

In the Conakry neighbourhoods of Koloma, Bambeto and Cosa, all hotbeds of anti-government unrest, soldiers were searching for 500 firearms they said had been looted from a private weapons business selling hunting rifles.

The military was however allowing individuals to visit private houses and seek food supplies on foot during the curfew hours, as long as they did not cause unrest or form groups.

Government, diplomatic and international humanitarian vehicles were also being allowed to circulate.

But military authorities warned they would fire on troublemakers and looters.

'Certain people came out during the night to resist. We've told the soldiers these are bandits and that they shouldn't hesitate to shoot,' a senior police officer, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

Army Chief of Staff Kerfala Camara went on state television late on Tuesday to say he had ordered the military to use their weapons if they faced any resistance or threats.

But he announced the curfew was being eased to allow people to be out for two hours longer, from midday to 6 p.m..

RUMORS OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS

At least three people were shot and killed on Tuesday in Labe, 250 km (155 miles) northeast of Conakry, when protesters confronted police. Police and soldiers were guarding Labe's market and streets on Wednesday, residents said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour have led international calls for the Guinea government to show restraint.

Fears that the unrest in Guinea could spill over into volatile neighbours Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Ivory Coast have been compounded by rumors that Conte is using Guinea Bissau troops and Liberian mercenaries to bolster his own forces.

But a senior Guinean military officer denied this. 'There are only Guinean soldiers on the ground at the moment,' the officer, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

Nevertheless, military sources said the rumors of foreign troops had caused some unease in Guinean military ranks, where young officers have also been agitating for promotions.

Conte, who seized power in a 1984 coup, has counted on the support of the armed forces for his autocratic rule, and analysts say this remains key to him staying in power.

Following a crippling 18-day strike last month, union bosses resumed the strike on Monday after Conte named a close ally, Eugene Camara, as prime minister, a move they said violated an earlier agreement.