Guineans restricted from leaving homes

Citizens were banned from leaving their homes Tuesday as a strict curfew took effect in this West African country a day after the president declared martial law. The new restrictions came in the wake of three days of rioting and clashes between protesters and security forces. Opposition leaders and trade unions accuse President Lansana Conte of violating a power-sharing agreement and are demanding he step down.

At least 27 people were killed in three days _ most from gunshot wounds, according to medical officials and witnesses. Conakry's League of Human Rights said it had tallied at least 57 deaths in the country.

Despite the curfew, residents reported sporadic gunfire in the suburbs of the capital Conakry and youths attempted to restart protests.

"They are still firing heavy arms. I didn't sleep all night because of the shooting," said Aissatou Diallo, a resident of the Madina neighborhood. "I see from my balcony people walking in the streets who are going to buy and sell things in the market. I even see some taxis."

In the outlying neighborhood of Dar-es-Salam, Alpha Oumar Bah said groups of youths started to gather again Tuesday morning, but ran off after soldiers arrived and started shooting into the air.

The U.S. embassy ordered all staff family members to leave Guinea and urged private U.S. citizens to go as well. The embassy offered seats to eligible family members and American citizens on a U.S. government plane flying to Dakar, Senegal.

The violence started Saturday, a day after Conte appointed his close ally Eugene Camara, a Cabinet member since 1997, as prime minister. The post had been left vacant since Conte, who seized power in a 1984 coup, fired Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo in April.

Last month, Conte agreed to appoint a consensus prime minister who was not a current member of his government in a deal to end a two-week national strike that brought Guinea to an economic standstill and sparked clashes that left at least 59 dead.

Many said he sidestepped that power-sharing agreement by naming a confidant, and angry youths took to the streets, throwing stones and ransacking buildings. Security forces fired into the crowds.

At least one radio station was raided by government forces and the U.N.'s World Food Program said three of its warehouses in Guinea were looted over the weekend.

Union leaders restarted the general strike Monday and said it would continue until the president stepped down. Gangs of machete-wielding youths roamed the capital throughout the day, while gunfire was heard in some parts.

Military sources said Conte traveled to the Alpha Yaya military base on Conakry's outskirts Monday to put down a potential insurrection by soldiers angry about low pay and lack of promotions. Officer Ibrahima Camara said lower-ranked soldiers scrapped a plan to take to the streets after Conte promoted them.

Opposition leaders say the ailing president has let corruption overrun Guinea as people struggle to meet basic needs. Conte reportedly suffers from a heart condition and diabetes, and has repeatedly traveled to Europe for treatment.

Guinea's 10 million people are impoverished and many live without the most basic public services, even though the country has half the world's reserves of bauxite, used to produce aluminum.

In a television address Monday, Conte said Guinea was in a "state of siege" _ an emergency declaration that puts the military in control of the country. He ordered the army to "take all necessary measures" to restore order and to "protect the people of Guinea from the risk of a civil war."

He said the recent violence was tantamount to an uprising.

The emergency declaration prohibits demonstrations or gatherings and institutes a strict curfew. Guineans have been banned from going outdoors between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., and between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Conte said martial law will continue through February 23.

The declaration also authorizes the military to put anyone participating in activities against the state under house arrest, gives officials wide latitude to search private property and gives the military permission to monitor phone calls and other communication.

The African Union condemned the military's actions and called for an independent inquiry.