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Guinea president names new PM
10/02/2007 11:40 - (SA)
Conakry - Guinean President Lansana Conte named Eugene Camara, minister in charge of presidential affairs, as his new prime minister on Friday, meeting the demand of unions threatening to relaunch a crippling general strike.
"Mr Eugene Camara, currently minister of state in charge of presidential affairs, is named prime minister, head of government," said Conte, according to a decree read on state television.
Unions in the West African country, the world's top exporter of bauxite, had given Conte until Monday to name a new prime minister.
The naming was agreed to in a deal two weeks ago to end an 18-day nationwide stoppage.
One of the unions' main negotiators, Boubacar Biro Barry, declined to say whether the strike order would immediately be lifted.
He said union leaders would meet to discuss the announcement on Saturday.
"I have no comment to make ahead of tomorrow's meeting," he told Reuters on Friday.
The last strike led to food shortages and triggered violent protests against Conte's 23-year rule in towns across the former French colony.
Rights campaigners said at least 90 people were killed in the unrest, most of them shot by police and soldiers.
- Reuters
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