Conde's trial begins

Opposition politician Alpha Conde appeared before the State Security Court in Conakry under tight surveillance on Wednesday at the start of his trial for endangering the state, according to news reports. He is also facing charges of "assaulting law enforcement officers and of fraudulent transfer of foreign exchange", AFP reported. It added that on entering the courtroom - ringed by an impressive array of armed police, gendarmes and soldiers - Conde told the media that the accusations against him were like "a novel, so badly written that they made him laugh". Conde, who said he'd lost 15 kg since his imprisonment, added that while confident about himself, he had "no confidence in the legal system". Conde is defended by a team of Guinean and foreign lawyers. The trial is being witnessed by several international observers who include parliamentarians and human rights advocates. He is accused with 47 others but says he does not know his fellow convicts. Conde, a member of parliament, was arrested on 16 December 1998 near the Ivorian border, a day after the presidential election in which he emerged as the third choice candidate.