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Protests rock Guinea's capital for second day

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Guinea
Lansana Conte
Kofi Annan

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) -- Protesters manned flaming roadblocks and battled riot police Tuesday in Guinea's capital during a second day of anti-government riots sparked by a workers' strike that has paralyzed the West African nation.

In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement expressing concern over the killings of about 10 students in violence that wracked the country a day earlier.

Annan "underlines the need for the nonviolent resolution of disputes and calls on the authorities to exercise restraint," the statement said.

In Guinea's capital on Tuesday, sporadic gunfire rang as hundreds of protesters, many of them apparently students, burned tires at impromptu roadblocks on Conakry's outskirts, blocking traffic into the heart of the capital.

Riot police could be seen scattering protesters by swinging truncheons and belts and firing into the air over the rioters' heads.

The Guinea Red Cross said six people died Monday, as students fought security forces during demonstrations over the cancellation of end-of-year exams after many teachers who would have overseen the tests joined a days-long work stoppage over low pay.

The students blamed the administration of President Lansana Conte for their plight and hurled epithets against the ailing leader as thousands protested on Monday.

Four unions representing blue-collar workers, teachers and others have been on strike since Thursday, demanding higher wages as prices surge in the country. A sack of rice is now nearly equal to a civil servant's monthly wage of about $35.

The presidency said late Monday it was meeting with union leaders.

Conte has ruled the West African country since taking power in a 1984 coup, and won elections boycotted by the opposition.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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