Guinea - violence

Corpses on show at Independence Day rally

Article published on the 2009-10-02 Latest update 2009-10-02 13:46 TU

A man stands near the bodies of people killed during an opposition rally, in the mortuary at the Ignace Deen hospital in Conakry
(Photo: Reuters)

Thousands of demonstrators marked Guinea’s 51st anniversary of independence from France by gathering in front of Conakry's main mosque in a new protest against the military rule of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. To underline their anger, the demonstrators put on display several dozen bodies of victims shot dead by security forces earlier in the week.

Rights groups and the United Nations say more than 150 people were killed and women were raped by soldiers at Monday’s demonstration in the city. The authorities have given a death toll of 56.

Religious officials had appealed to families to come to the mosque on Friday to try and identify some of the dead.

Riot police struggled to control the new rally, dominated by youths who raised their fists in the air in a sign of defiance. However, there have been no reports of violence.

Camara celebrated Independence Day by going to the Martyrs' Monument in Conakry for a ceremony attended by troops and religious and civilian dignitaries. Only a few hundred people turned up.

He used a televised speech to call for talks "so all may make their contribution to the transition process".

Camara, who has blamed Monday’s violence on "uncontrolled elements" of the army, expressed what he called "very profound sympathy" for the families of those killed and said a peaceful political transition was possible.

"28 September 2009 is from now on a symbol of violence," he said.

A joint statement by opposition political parties, trade unions and civil associations said that "internal dialogue has become impossible".

Demonstrators were "trapped, brutalised, humiliated, beaten up, raped, stabbed and killed by drugged squads of the army," said the statement which blamed Camara and Defence Minister General Sekouba Konate.