Talks on Guinea massacre

2009-11-02 10:34

Ouagadougou - Guinea's main opposition leaders arrived in Ouagadougou on Sunday for talks with President Blaise Compaore, who is mediating a crisis in Guinea following a September 28 massacre by the army.

The opposition grouping, known as the forces vives, said they wanted the talks with Compaore to discuss the practicalities of ensuring the departure of self-proclaimed president Captain Moussa Dadis Camara and the junta he leads.

Initially due to start on Monday, the talks mediated by west African regional grouping Ecowas will now start on Tuesday.

"The forces vives have already sent a memorandum to the mediator demanding new transitional authorities and the dissolution of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD, junta)," said Brahima Fofana, a spokesperson for Guinea's USTG union.

"We have come to discuss the modalities of the departure of the CNDD from the transition. That is the subject of the negotiations here in Ouagadougou," Fofana added.

Publicly raped

Four of Guinea's former prime ministers are also in Burkina Faso for the talks: Sidya Toure (1996-1999), Francois Lonseny Fall (2004), Cellou Dalein Diallo (2004-2006) and Lansana Kouyate (2007-2008).

Opposition leaders Alpha Conde and Mouctar Diallo are also in Burkina Faso's capital along with union representatives and civil society leaders.

The talks are to be held over a month after junta troops opened fire at a rally in a Conakry stadium where protesters were urging Camara not to stand in presidential elections planned for January.

At least 150 people died, the United Nations says. Human rights groups put the toll at 157 dead and more than 1 200 injured, including women who were publicly raped.

The military regime has said that 56 people died and 934 were wounded.

- SAPA