Guinea junta troops 'killed and raped hundreds at democracy rally'

The African Union threatened to impose sanctions on the junta in Guinea yesterday after more than 150 pro-democracy demonstrators were killed and hundreds were raped by government soldiers on Monday. About 50,000 demonstrators had gathered at the main stadium in Conakry, the capital, to protest after reports that the head of the regime, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, had reneged on a deal to stand down in favour of free elections. Presidential guards opened fire on the protesters with live ammunition and teargas. "Soldiers were firing at people and those who tried to get out were caught and finished off with bayonets," Souleymane Bah, a Guinean human rights activist, said. The bodies of 157 people were taken to hospital mortuaries and 1,253 wounded were admitted for treatment but an unknown number of dead were removed from the stadium by the military. Many witnesses testified to brutal and sexual violence.