Union deadline for Guinea leader

Most shops and offices closed during the strike

Trade unions in Guinea have given the president until Sunday to name a prime minister or face a new general strike.

An 18-day nationwide strike was called off last month after President Lansana Conte agreed to cede some of his powers to a prime minister.

But an appointment has still not been made and one unionist said their patience was "running out".

Some 60 people died during the strikes, called over falling living standards and alleged mismanagement.

The deaths came after security forces opened fire on protesters as they were trying to march to the centre of the capital, Conakry, witnesses and unionists say.

Justice Minister Alseny Rene Gomez appeared on state TV late on Monday to promise the government would open an impartial inquiry into the killings, reports Reuters news agency.

Cheaper rice

The unionists said a competent prime minister must be named by Sunday, or the strikes will resume on Monday.

"We have so far been patient and now our patience is running out," said union leader Ibrahima Fofana.

President Conte has won three elections since seizing power

He also said that the recent naming of people to top state jobs, such as the head of Conakry's port, went against the spirit of the agreement, as this should be the responsibility of the prime minister.

The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Conakry says the government has kept its promise to lower the price of rice and fuel but the naming of the prime minister is seen as the main point of the agreement.

The president seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections.

The unions accused Mr Conte, who is in his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption.

This was the third general strike in a year.