There’s been widespread international condemnation of Monday’s army crackdown of opposition protests in Conakry, the capital of the West African Republic of Guinea.

According to hospitals in the city, at least 58 people were killed when the army dispersed a large crowd protesting against a junta leader who seized power in December, following the death of President Lansana Conte at the end of 2008. Mr Conte had ruled the country for decades with an iron hand.

Dissatisfaction with the current military regime led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has been steadily growing, ever since he went back on an earlier agreement not to take part in the upcoming elections. Captain Camara is also under strong international pressure to step down.

Demonstrators had begun to gather outside Conakry's largest stadium, which was guarded by large numbers of police. Protesters carried placards reading "No to Dadis" and "Down with the army in power."

Protest ban
The junta banned the demonstration, but several political parties, trade unions and civic organisations vowed that the event would go ahead. In the middle of the morning, riot police charged the protesters. Reports suggest many dozens were killed in the violence.

Former colonial ruler France was quick to condemn "the violent repression exercised by the army against the opposition and civil society during a peaceful demonstration held in Conakry."

Paris called on the junta to "show responsibility and to listen to the Guinean people's legitimate aspiration to democratically choose their leaders," and said captain Camara not standing for re-election "would allow for calm to return."

Shock and concern
In a similarly critical statement, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked by the loss of life, the high number of people injured and the destruction of property."

A senior US official in Washington said: "We're deeply concerned about the general breakdown in security in Conakry. We urge the Guinean government to exercise restraint and ensure the safety and security of Guinean and foreign nationals in accordance with universally accepted standards of human rights."

The International Federation of Human Rights urged world bodies, including the United Nations and the African Union, to help stop the executions by what it said was an "illegitimate regime."

The AFP press agency reports that an army truck had come by to pick up "dozens of bodies" to be taken to "an unknown destination".