Suspected Sierra Leone sanctions-buster shot

Security officers in Guinea are reported to have shot dead a merchant seaman during a joint naval and customs operation at sea to halt a ship suspected of breaking sanctions against Sierra Leone.

A BBC reporter says the ship was forced back to port at Conakry and its cargo searched.

Two weeks ago, Guinean officials impounded two ships suspected of smuggling supplies to Sierra Leone.

The West African economic community has imposed an embargo to put pressure on the military rulers who seized power in Freetown last May to restore democracy.

Our reporter in Conakry says the Guinean authorities appear determined to take tougher action to counter accusations that Guinea is the weak link in the embargo.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service