BBC News Online: World: Africa

Guinea defence minister sacked

State radio announced that Mr Diasseny was to become political adviser to the president, but no replacement as defence minister was named.

This has fuelled speculation that Mr Conte may assume the post himself.

A BBC correspondent in Conakry says Mr Conte may prefer to have no intermediary between himself and the army, as he tries to tackle rebel attacks on Guinea's southern borders, which in the last four months have left hundreds dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Many refugees from the war in Sierra Leone are among those left homeless and destitute and the United Nations announced recently that it would help them to leave war-torn Guinea for home.

Organisation of African Unity Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim is expected to visit Conakry on Friday to discuss the ongoing instability with President Conte. He held talks with Liberian President Charles Taylor in Monrovia on Thursday.

West African defence chiefs have agreed to send over 1,500 troops to Guinea before the end of January to patrol its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Rebel talks

On Wednesday, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, Lieutenant-General Daniel Opande, flew to areas held by rebel groups to urge them to withdraw from conflicts in Guinea and Liberia.

He met Issa Sesay, leader of the Revolutionary United Front, and other rebel officials.

He described the talks as "a great leap forward towards the peace process".

Last month the UN Security Council condemned recent incursions by the RUF into Guinea, whose government says the rebels are aided by the Liberian authorities.