Guinea's Conte names diplomat PM, strike to end

CONAKRY, Feb 26 (Reuters) Guinea's veteran President Lansana Conte named respected career diplomat Lansana Kouyate prime minister under a deal to end a general strike against his 23-year rule, state radio said today.

More than 120 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in protests against Conte's rule since the start of the year. Conte agreed yesterday to pick a new prime minister from a list drawn up by unions, who then agreed to end the strike tomorrow.

The president's previous choice of a stalwart ally to fill the post, Eugene Camara, prompted riots and a resumption of last month's strike in the world's largest bauxite exporter.

''Lansana Kouyate ... is named as prime minister, head of the government, in substitution of Eugene Camara who has been called to other duties,'' said a presidential decree read on state radio, greeted with applause and shouts of joy in some neighbourhoods of the West African coastal capital Conakry.

Conte has ruled with an iron fist since he seized power in an army coup in 1984, but has been increasingly isolated as the violence exposed deep opposition to his rule of a country that remains desperately poor despite having one-third of the world's reserves of bauxite, the ore used to make aluminium.

HANDICAPS Union leaders welcomed the appointment of Kouyate, a former executive secretary-general of West African regional body ECOWAS and a one-time Guinean ambassador to the United Nations.

''He was at the top of our list and we are entirely satisfied with his appointment,'' said union negotiator Boubacar Biro Barry.

Guinean traders and householders today began to slowly go about their business after the weekend deal, brokered by a delegation from ECOWAS.

Opposition politicians, however, struck a note of caution.

''Lansana Kouyate can succeed if he has a free hand, that is to say if Lansana Conte lets him work,'' said opposition spokesman Mamadou Ba.

''He faces two handicaps: the first is that the economic situation has greatly deteriorated; the second is that combative unions and a hardened people are no longer willing to be pushed around,'' he said.

Traders today reopened their stalls at markets in the capital Conakry though larger shops and banks remained closed in compliance with union orders to lift the strike from tomorrow.

The previously supportive parliament voted unanimously on Friday to reject Conte's request to extend martial law imposed in mid-February to quell protests against him.

Hours before martial law expired late on Friday, army chief Kerfalla Camara today ordered businesses to reopen, provoking an angry response from union leaders who said the army had no right to call off the strike.

Nearly seven weeks of on-off strike action have caused widespread disruption to an economy already struggling with high inflation and widespread unrest over rising living costs.

Bauxite mining, refining and export operations, the country's financial lifeblood, have been extensively disrupted but have all but returned to normal production since martial law was lifted in mining areas 10 days ago.

Reuters SBA RN0306