Guinea could extend martial law
2007-02-21 22:18
Conakry - Guinea is to extend the state of martial law due to expire on Friday if an ongoing general strike is not called off by then, said the country's speaker of parliament on Wednesday.
"If the strike call is not lifted, we will extend the state of siege to safeguard security" in the west African country, said Aboubacar Sompare.
President Lansana Conte declared emergency powers on February 12 amid mounting political unrest, imposing a curfew and allowing the military to take necessary action to restore order.
The state of siege is due to expire on Friday. Parliament earlier said those officials are due on that day to consider extending the martial law.
The United States-based group Human Rights Watch has accused the security forces of abusing the martial law provisions to carry out killings, rape and theft.
At least 113 people have been killed in weeks of unrest as authorities have cracked down on protestors, and local activists report that hundreds of people had been arrested in night-time raids in towns across the country.
- SAPA