BBC News Online: World: Africa

Attack in Guinea kills nearly 70

Security officials say three government soldiers were among those killed on Friday night in the southern Macenta region.

The officials say eight of the attackers were captured, while the rest escaped with some communication equipment and weapons.

Correspondents say this is the fourth such attack in Guinea since the beginning of the month.

Thirty-five people were killed in a similar incident in the same area last month, including an aid worker for the United Nations refugee agency.

Regional tensions

The government says the rebels are operating from Liberian territory with the support of guerrilla groups from Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.

The Liberian Government has denied the accusations, which have set off tensions around the region.

Guinea hosts about 500,000 refugees who have fled conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

But earlier this month, President Lansana Conte accused them of aiding the rebels and has told them to leave

Guinean civilians joined enthusiastically in hunting down refugees, in what correspondents described as an outpouring of resentment against foreigners, which had been building up for years.