CONAKRY, (Reuters) – Guinea’s government declared a state of emergency and imposed an overnight curfew yesterday after three days of violence that followed the announcement of the result of its first free election since independence.
A rights group said it counted at least ten people killed and more than 200 wounded in the unrest, which broke out on Monday after opposition leader Alpha Conde was named winner of the Nov. 7 presidential run-off.
The state of emergency gives police extra powers to keep law and order and will remain in place until legal disputes over election results are resolved, authorities said.
“In the interests of keeping peace, calm and national unity, a state of emergency has been declared, effective immediately, until the final confirmation of the results … by the Supreme Court,” army chief Nouhou Thiam said on state television.
