Crowds of protesters marched through the Guinean capital of Conakry on Thursday in the latest round of demonstrations against President Alpha Conde, accused of trying to circumvent a bar on a third term in office. Organisers said a million participants took part, while police put the number at 30,000. Local media said there were hundreds of thousands of people.
The march unfolded peacefully after previous protests that led to deadly clashes, an AFP reporter saw. Police mobilised in large numbers but kept a low profile. Many demonstrators wore red in honour of those killed in protests last week. The opposition says 10 people died, while the authorities put the toll at eight, plus a gendarme. "We will not allow it!" and "Down with dictatorship!", they cried as they rallied in the seaside capital.
"We are tired of the lies, the false promises, and above all the fact that he (Conde) is no longer capable of meeting the expectations of the people. Ten years in power is long enough," said Souleymane Kamagathe, a baker.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019
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