afrol News, 2 February - The Guinean President, Lansana Conté, has signed a decree that sets the stage for the functions of a would-be Prime Minister. The move was a fundamental demand of Guinean unionists, who launched 18 days of country-wide strikes against poor governance and officialisation of corruption in the country.

So far confirmed, 59 people were reportedly killed by security forces.

Scared about the long strike, the sick Guinean President called for dialogue as an alternative to the problems.

The signed decree has given powers to the Prime Minister to be the chief of and coordinator of government actions - taking over these powers from the presidency. However, the Prime Minister's powers are limited to civil duties because President Conté remains the Chief of Defence.

President Conté is soon expected to sign a decree, which gives him the powers to name the head of the new government. In so doing, he must be mindful of the unionists' demands that the person has to be an honest and high-ranking civil servant of profound integrity who has not been indicted in embezzlement of state funds.

The Prime Minister would be empowered to implement some of the key demands of the unionists, which include the respect for separation of executive and judicial powers, crack down on official corruption, reduction of hikes of essential goods, and increase minimum wages of government employees. He or she will also be tasked to review the public budget as well as revamp Guinea's failed economy.

Meanwhile, the violence during police action against the protesters and strikers in late January is being documented. The at least 59 victims of police actions seem to have been slaughtered brutally as photo documentation from Conakry hospitals - of which afrol News has obtained copies - clearly document.

Guinean and international human rights organisations have already urged government to launch full scale investigations into the police brutality and bring those guilty of excessive use of force to court. So far, no action in that direction has been taken in Conakry.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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