Guinean opposition leader on trial

By West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle

The trial of a leading opponent of the military government in Guinea has opened in the country's capital, Conakry.

The defendant, Professor Alpha Conde, is accused of plotting a coup d'etat.

He denies the charges.

Professor Conde was arrested over a year ago as he was challenging the head of state, General Lansana Conte, in presidential elections.

General Conte was eventually declared the winner despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud.

Test for democracy

The trial of Alpha Conde is an important test for democracy in Guinea - a country which has been under military rule for most of the time since independence from France over 40 years ago.

The Guinean opposition claim the polls were rigged in favour of President Conte

Mr Conde, a former professor of politics at the Sorbonne University in Paris, denies plotting a coup d'etat.

Independent human rights groups allege that the charges against him are politically motivated.

He appeared in court looking as though he had lost weight in prison, but he flashed a victory salute to his supporters and even gave an interview to journalists in the court room.

Alpha Conde was arrested in 1998, shortly after presidential elections which the opposition said were rigged in favour of General Conte.