Three people were killed and dozens of others in clashes between Guinean security forces and strikers on Saturday, as the general strike calling for President Lansana Conte to step down continued, according to news from Conakry, capital of the west African country.

The latest deaths, reported in the southeastern city of Nzerekore, brought to eight the number of people killed in clashes between demonstrators and riot police since the strike began on Jan. 10.

The strike, called by the trade union after Conte halted the trial of two people accused of embezzlement, demanded resignation of the president.

Conte, 72, has run the country since 1984.

In a statement issued at the end of a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Burkina Faso's capital of Ouagadougou on Friday night, west African leaders expressed their concerns over the current tension in Guinea.

The leaders, after a nine-hour discussion, agreed to send a delegation to Guinea to mediate negotiations among all sides to find a "non-violence solution."

Source: Xinhua