The European Union has agreed to impose an arms embargo and sanctions against Guinea's military junta. The decision comes three weeks after a massacre at an opposition rally in the capital Conakry left 157 dead, according to United Nations estimates.

Government troops opened fire in a stadium in the west African country on 28 September during a rally calling for junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara not to stand for election next January. It is alleged that Captain Camara himself gave the orders to fire on the crowds. The International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened an investigation.

The EU sanctions would primarily involve freezing finances and not issuing visas for travel to Europe; EU development aid for Guinea was already suspended earlier this year. The measures have still to signed off by EU foreign ministers who meet at the start of next week in Luxembourg.