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Envoys hold Guinea crisis talks Union leaders shun Guinea talks
(about 5 hours later)
West African envoys have gone to Guinea for talks with ailing President Lansana Conte on ending the political crisis. Union leaders in Guinea say they will not enter talks with the government until emergency powers imposed last Tuesday are relaxed.
On Tuesday he gave the army sweeping powers after weeks of protests led by trade unions seeking political reform. Their refusal came at the same time as West African leaders met Guinea's President Lansana Conte to try to find a solution to the current impasse.
More than 100 people have been killed in clashes with the Guinean security forces during the demonstrations. Union leaders want President Conte to relinquish his near-absolute power.
More than 100 people have been killed in clashes with the Guinean security forces during anti-government protests.
One union leader, Rabiatou Serah Diallo, said the meeting with the government had been cancelled for the time being.
"We asked for the lifting of martial law, security for union members, an end to night house searches and the carnage," he told the French news agency AFP.
But the National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare said the union bosses did not attend the meeting because security documents that would have allowed them to travel despite a curfew had not yet been delivered to them.
Guinea's military reportedly arrested 300 opposition supporters in a series of raids during Friday night and took them to military camps.Guinea's military reportedly arrested 300 opposition supporters in a series of raids during Friday night and took them to military camps.
The detainees were picked up in the inland towns of Mamou, Dabola, Koundare and Kerouane.The detainees were picked up in the inland towns of Mamou, Dabola, Koundare and Kerouane.
In another development, the unions have now said they will not engage in further talks with the authorities until the emergency powers are lifted.
'Close ally''Close ally'
The BBC's Will Ross in the Guinean capital Conakry says that so far President Conte has shown no sign of giving in to the pressure to end what is effectively martial law.The BBC's Will Ross in the Guinean capital Conakry says that so far President Conte has shown no sign of giving in to the pressure to end what is effectively martial law.
He is having talks with regional envoys led by former Nigeria military leader Ibrahim Babangida, who is seen as a close ally.He is having talks with regional envoys led by former Nigeria military leader Ibrahim Babangida, who is seen as a close ally.
Before leaving for Conakry, Mr Babangida told state media in Nigeria there was a "social movement" taking place in Guinea. Mr Babangida told a news conference that the West African grouping Ecowas would not like to see Guinea "run into a very chaotic situation".
"It is my task to come here and understand the situation and try to find a solution." "From the experiences we've got with wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Bissau Guinea, I think we should find a solution here," he said.
The Guinean leader has in recent months appeared reluctant to accept outside mediation, our correspondent says.The Guinean leader has in recent months appeared reluctant to accept outside mediation, our correspondent says.
The US has condemned the imposition of martial law and the civilian deaths.The US has condemned the imposition of martial law and the civilian deaths.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the US embassy in Conakry criticised "the suspension - even partial - of civilian rule, the use of lethal force against the civilian population, the abrogation of basic freedoms, and the roll-back of the democratic process. In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the US embassy in Conakry criticised "the suspension - even partial - of civilian rule, the use of lethal force against the civilian population, the abrogation of basic freedoms, and the roll-back of the democratic process".
France, the former colonial power, has urged Mr Conte to negotiate a political settlement.France, the former colonial power, has urged Mr Conte to negotiate a political settlement.