Pre-poll clashes

Violence erupted on Saturday when fighting between rival parties in Conakry forced the police to intervene with tear gas, news organisations reported. The clashes erupted in an opposition stronghold in Conakry between rival parties armed with machetes and stones. Reuters reported that state television showed footage of cars with their windscreens smashed and wounded people in hospitals. Residents said shops were looted in several heavily populated districts. The diplomatic source told IRIN that the campaigning had been generally peaceful and the Saturday incident was “an isolated event triggered off by street boys and over-zealous opposition supporters”.