Britain urges citizens to leave country as tensions rise

Britain has urged its citizens to leave troubled Guinea "by whichever means available" due to deteriorating security conditions in the country and rising tensions since last month's bloody crackdown on opposition supporters.

AFP- Britain on Friday urged its citizens to leave Guinea following a bloody crackdown on opposition supporters in the west African nation, where a military junta took power in December.
   
United Nations officials and human rights groups say more than 150 people were killed on September 28 when Guinean troops opened fire on an unarmed crowd gathered in a stadium in Guinea's capital Conakry to protest against military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara's rule.
   
"We advise UK citizens to leave Guinea unless they have a pressing reason to stay," the Foreign Office said.
   
"The level of security in Guinea has deteriorated steadily since the coup in December 2008 and has been made worse by the shootings of September 28 in Conakry.
   
"Although Conakry is currently relatively calm with the occasional shooting reported from within the military camps, we advise UK citizens to leave Guinea by whichever means are available to them.
   
"The airport and land borders are open."
   
Guinea's health ministry says 56 people were killed and 934 people injured during the protest crackdown.

Date created : 2009-10-10