[Guinean news] Mutinous soldiers clash with presidential guard

Tension has continued to rise in Guinea and fears (hopes?) of a military coup are increasing.

Late on Wednesday, mutinous soldiers forced their way on to a runway at the Conakry International Airport and prevented an American military plane from landing.

The BBC reported that On Thursday, the soldiers set up roadblocks at the entrance to the administrative district, which houses the presidency, the army headquarters and some embassies. It added that Soldiers say that some of them have not received any pay since 1996, when an army mutiny nearly toppled the regime of Gen. Lansana Conté.

And perhaps most dramatically, there were armed clashes in Conakry between army soldiers and members of the presidential guard.

[Guinean news] Soldiers continue looting despite government concessions

The Guinean head of state, Gen. Lansana Conté, conceded one of the key demands of rioting soldiers by replacing the country's defense minister and the army chief on Saturday. However, troops continued to riot after the announcement. Soldiers apparently ransacked many shops and warehouses in Conakry, including offices of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Witnesses said men in army uniforms stole vehicles and looted cacao, rice and sugar, as well electrical equipment such as generators.

Witness also said soldiers were responsible for a raid on UNFPA’s stores, stealing stocks of condoms as well as computer equipment. UN facilities were also targeted during a civil uprising earlier this year when World Food Programme warehouses in several towns were looted, according the IRIN news service.

The rioting suggest that the regime's control is slipping even further.

The army’s agenda is unclear and it is currently “very disorganised,” Elisabeth Cote, who represents the Washington-based election support NGO IFES in Guinea told IRIN. “It seems likely the army doesn’t want [President] Conte anymore,” she said .“[If so] it doesn’t take much organising and then one considers it a coup.”

The capital was reported to be calm on Sunday and Monday.

Update: Guinéenews reports that the raiding of the UN Population Fund's warehouses resulted in over $326,000 in losses.

[Guinean news] Soldiers paralyze the capital

On Friday, Guinean soldiers took to the streets of the capital Conakry, firing shots in the air, continuing military protests about pay and conditions that have hit several cities in recent weeks.

Shops and market stalls closed as people rushed to get home and pick their children up from school.

At the height of the stand-off, two government radio stations went off air.

There were also reports of disturbances in Kindia and Mamou in the east and Macenta in the south, according to the BBC.

Though the British broadcaster also reports that soldiers have since returned to the barracks. Guinéenews adds that calm seemed to have returned to the capital by late Friday afternoon. This was after the head of state, Gen. Lansana Conté, reportedly agreed to meet with disaffected soldiers on Saturday.

[Guinean news] More army pay riots... this time in Guéckédou

In recent weeks, rioting by disaffected soldiers has broken out in several Guinean cities. Today, there was violence in the southeastern border town of Guéckédou, with one person being killed.

The army claims that wages have been withheld since 1996, when an army mutiny-cum-attempted coup costs hundreds of lives, and wants the re-integration of troops who were sacked after the 1996 events.

On Wednesday, the military chief announced that all soldiers not promoted within the past five years would automatically be promoted one rank, reported the AFP news agency. But rioting in Guéckédou erupted to day nonetheless.

The streets of Gueckedou were immediately deserted and markets shut when the soldiers started rampaging across the town on Thursday.

The IRIN reports that these riots indicate just how fragile the Guinean government is.