Guinean and Russian leaders to meet

The president of Guinea, Lansana Conte, is to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin later today Friday as part of a three-day visit aimed at strengthening relations with Russia.

The two leaders are expected to discuss trade, economic and military-technical cooperation.

The talks will also focus on security in Africa.

Correspondents say the meeting has added significance since it comes shortly after President Putin's meetings at the G8 summit in Genoa, which outlined a programme for speeding up development in Africa.

Reports say that President Conte will also seek to buy arms to help fight off rebels who have been battling government forces in Guinea. Earlier President Conte held meetings with leading Russian businessmen where they proposed to cooperate in bauxite mining, road construction and air transportation.

In May, Russian Aluminium won a twenty-five year contract to manage one of Guinea's three main mines.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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