FRENCH President Jacques Chirac arrived in the Guinean capital Conakry on Wednesday afternoon on a day’s visit, the first leg of a tour that will also take him to Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo. Chirac was met on arrival by President Lansana Conte. The two leaders held bilateral talks on Wednesday night. Chirac will also take up the the issue of democratisation in Guinea with his host. Conte, who came to power in 1984 following the death of President Ahmed Sekou Toure, was re-elected in December. But that election was marred by the arrest of opposition leader Alpha Conde, who was accused of attempting to destabilise the government. His trial is set for 7 September in Conakry. African intellectuals, journalists and politicians have urged Chirac to use his visit to plea for the release of Conde.