CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea's president has dismissed two high-ranking officials after deadly clashes took place in their cities.
President Alpha Conde made the announcement Monday on national television following last week's violence.
Witnesses say seven people were killed by soldiers on the orders of the official in Zerekore, where demonstrators were protesting a mining company in the area. The violence in Siguiri was sparked when the army shot at protesters who were demanding better living conditions.
Earlier Monday, police in the capital fired tear gas at dozens of demonstrators angry over power and water outages.
Guinea suffered decades of dictatorship and the rule of a violent military junta before holding its first democratic election ever in 2010. Still, many Guineans remain deeply impoverished and have faced spiraling costs of living since the vote.
