Diplomacy aimed at ending border violence

As Guinea pleaded for international help following attacks on villages by armed men from Liberia and Sierra Leone, West African leaders began formulating a plan to reduce tension between the three countries. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed its "strong condemnation" of the recent attacks in Guinea, which have left at least 80 people dead, according to Guinean authorities. ECOWAS Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare, the president of Mali, arrived in Conakry on Tuesday to help mediate, a humanitarian source told IRIN. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern about the border violence and, in particular, the tension between Guinea and Liberia. Each has accused the other during the past year of harbouring dissidents seeking to destabilise its government, and both have denied the charges. Annan said the dispute could have "an adverse effect on Sierra Leone". Relations between the governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone appear to be good, as Sierra Leone's leaders are fighting the same group, the Revolutionary United Front, that is suspected of carrying out the latest attack in Guinea.