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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Guinea leader 'cedes key demand' | Guinea leader 'cedes key demand' |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Guinea's President Lansana Conte has agreed to name a new prime minister - one of the key demands of trade unions to end a general strike, mediators say. | Guinea's President Lansana Conte has agreed to name a new prime minister - one of the key demands of trade unions to end a general strike, mediators say. |
| They say he made the concession at talks attended by trade union leaders, members of the Supreme Court and religious leaders. | |
| But the trade unions say the strike, that began on 10 January, will continue until all their demands are met. | But the trade unions say the strike, that began on 10 January, will continue until all their demands are met. |
| On Monday at least 33 people died in clashes between police and protestors. | On Monday at least 33 people died in clashes between police and protestors. |
| Etienne Leno, one of the religious leaders who met Mr Conte on Wednesday, told Reuters news agency that the president was ready to listen to the people. | Etienne Leno, one of the religious leaders who met Mr Conte on Wednesday, told Reuters news agency that the president was ready to listen to the people. |
| "He is even in agreement that, if the people want one, there should be a new prime minister," Mr Leno said. | "He is even in agreement that, if the people want one, there should be a new prime minister," Mr Leno said. |
| "Now we must find a credible candidate." | "Now we must find a credible candidate." |
| But the trade unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike. | But the trade unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike. |
| "The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG). | "The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG). |
| "It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said. | "It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said. |
| There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks. | There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks. |
| Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections. | Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections. |
| The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption. | The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption. |
| This is the third general strike in a year. | This is the third general strike in a year. |