Clash toll in Guinea soars, France cuts aid

By Saliou Samb

CONAKRY (Reuters) - France led international pressure on Guinea's military rulers by cutting military cooperation Tuesday after a crackdown by the security forces on its opponents killed 157, according to a local rights group.

Condemnation of Guinea's junta intensified.

France joined the African Union in mulling sanctions and West Africa's ECOWAS called for an international enquiry into the bloody quashing of a demonstration by tens of thousands of protesters urging military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to step down.

The U.S. State Department appealed for restraint and called upon the Guinean government to ensure the safety of its own nationals and foreigners, and to release political prisoners.

The violence Monday was the worst since Camara seized control of the world's top bauxite exporter in a December 2008 coup.

But the junta leader said he was not responsible for the deaths and was yet to decide on standing in an election due in early 2010.

"France has decided to immediately suspend military cooperation with Guinea. It is also reviewing its entire bilateral aid," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.

Kouchner said the European Union would meet Wednesday to look at "additional measures, particularly against individuals, that could be taken swiftly" and Guinea's former colonial ruler was consulting with the African Union and the United Nations.

Guinea's capital, Conakry, remained tense Tuesday, with heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets, sporadic gunfire heard and continued reports of abuse by the security forces.

TOLL MORE THAN DOUBLES

Earlier, an overnight death toll more than doubled.

"According to hospital sources that we have spoken to, 157 dead and 1,253 injured have been registered," said Thierno Maadjou Sow, president of the Guinean Human Rights Organization.

Sow told Reuters the figure did not include the bodies of those demonstrators killed at the September 28 stadium but which had not been delivered to hospitals.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said hospitals in Conakry had been overwhelmed by an influx of the wounded.

The clashes follow months of wrangling between Camara and his opponents, who are backed by donors and regional bodies in insisting he should not stand in a January presidential poll.