Demonstrations continue over opposition leader’s detention

Thierno Diallo, editor-in-chief of the weekly ‘Le Lynx’ in Conakry told IRIN today that protests took place yesterday and today in the capital, Conakry, and other parts of the country, demanding the release of the chief opposition leader, Alpha Conde. He was detained last week by police who said he was attempting to cross the border into neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
Diallo said 20 women were arrested yesterday when a group embarked on a protest in the nude in the outskirts of Conakry. It is unclear whether they have been released. He added that many markets and shops were closed in Conakry today because owners feared looting. Diallo said the situation was fairly tense in the capital and joint police and military units continued to patrol the streets. In the north-eastern towns of Kankan and Siguiri, several demonstrations took place and an unconfirmed number of people were killed in subsequent clashes with the police.

Diallo also quoted a statement issued today by a local NGO, l’Organisation Guineenne de la defense des droits de l’Homme, which denounced Conde’s arrest, stating that his alleged attempt to cross the border into Cote d’Ivoire was not a crime. The NGO called on the authorities to respect Conde’s parliamentary immunity and release him with immediate effect. Diallo said nobody had been allowed to visit Conde since he has been in detention.

Conde, the leader of the opposition party the Rassemblement du Peuple de la Guinee (RPG) came third in presidential elections held on 14 December.