Senegal president in Guinea crisis talks

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has held talks with Guinea’s presidential election winner and runner-up over disputed poll results which has led to deadly clashes in the neighbouring country.

Guinea, Wade spoke to Alpha Conde and Cellou Dalein Diallo with the view of “a rapid exit from the crisis,” the presidency said in a press statement published on Thursday.

The statement said Wade had also been in touch with Guinea’s interim Prime Minister Jean-Marie Dore, and with Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, who is mediating Guinea’s political crisis.

Wade asked Cellou Dalein Diallo to appeal to his supporters to stop any protest on public roads, which he accepted, the statement said.

And the Senegalese leader urged Conde, who won the election with 52,5% of votes, to make a public appeal for dialogue on “peace and development in Guinea”.

Wade also supported a decision by Dore to “absolutely prohibit the use of firearms by security forces”.

Guinea’s interim President General Sekouba Konate on Wednesday decreed a state of emergency after the death of at least seven people in violent clashes since the announcement of Conde’s victory on Monday.

The state of emergency would be in place until the results are confirmed by the Supreme Court, which should take place no later than November 26.—Sapa-AFP