Eyewitness: Fleeing Guinea violence

By Will Ross
BBC News, Conakry

On Saturday afternoon I found myself trapped in a notorious suburb in Guinea's capital, Conakry, after gangs of armed men mounted road blocks and refused to let any vehicles past.

More than 70 people have died during the protests

Since the strike began a month ago, more than 70 people have been shot dead by security forces, but in recent days the protests have also been accompanied by increased looting and banditry.

Throughout the night in the suburb of Hamdallaye there was gunfire as police attempted to disperse the men blocking the road - some of whom were on drugs.

But each time a vehicle approached, the crowds returned throwing rocks.

Several cars and trucks were looted.

Before dawn it appeared to have calmed down and we attempted to make it back to the city centre.

Confrontation

But there was still no way through. Rocks had been strewn all over the road to block traffic and after turning round at a roadblock, three men ran towards the car with stones.

Even if 1,000 people are shot dead the rest will continue to demonstrate Protester

One man smashed the rear windscreen with a machete but thanks to my colleague, Alhassan Sillah's driving skills, we made it to safety, abandoned the car and walked several kilometres to town.

A few cars passed us but most showed the result of running the gauntlet - smashed windows and dented panels.

Roads in several districts of the capital resemble war zones after the weekend's clashes.

Gangs

But some here are not pleased that alongside the calls for the ailing president to step down, gangs are taking advantage of the general chaos, attacking civilians and extorting money.

Hardline protestors have threatened to attack certain suburbs which have been quiet during the first few weeks of the strike, accusing the people there of not being committed enough.

The resumption of the strike on Monday has meant business has once again come to a standstill.

Crowds have come out on the streets of several towns across the country to call for President Lansana Conte to step down while Conakry is extremely tense.

Trucks have been ferrying soldiers to the suburbs and gunfire has been heard near one of the army barracks.

Protests

Clashes are inevitable between the police and military on side and the protestors on the other but a significant number of people do not appear to have been put off.

President Conte is sick and rarely seen in public

"Even if 1,000 people are shot dead the rest will continue to demonstrate in order to achieve a change of leadership," one man in Medina market told me ahead of the strike.

Each evening many people are glued to their small radios or crowded around television sets awaiting any possible word from President Conte.

But while the country descends into chaos, he has remained silent, as has the government.

But in a country which is clearly lacking leadership this silence comes as no surprise to many here.