Guinea

The U.N. Security Council has welcomed “recent positive developments” in Guinea, which has been gripped by unrest since Government forces opened fire on unarmed protesters last year, killing at least 150 people, and urged the transitional authorities there to prevent any further violence pending elections. In a presidential statement read out by Ambassador Gerard Araud of France, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency for February, the 15-member body hailed moves taken by the interim president, General Sekouba Konate, including the formation of a national unity government led by a civilian prime minister, Jean-Marie Dore, named by the opposition, and the holding of elections within six months. (U.N. News Service)