Guinean defence minister sacked

The President of Guinea, Lansana Conte, has removed his Minister of Defence, Dorank Assifat Diasseny, as instability continues on Guinea's borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone.

State radio announced that Mr Diasseny was to become political adviser to the president, but no replacement as Defence Minister was named.

This has fuelled speculation that Mr Conte may assume the post himself.

A BBC correspondent in Conakry says Mr Conte may prefer to have no intermediary between himself and the army, as he tries to tackle rebel attacks on Guinea's southern borders, which in the last four months have left hundreds dead and tens-of-thousands homeless.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service