CONAKRY - An investigation by Guinea authorities into a deadly general anti-government strike staged early this year has found that 137 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1700 injured.

CONAKRY - An investigation by Guinea authorities into a deadly general anti-government strike staged early this year has found that 137 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1700 injured.

Among the injured were 11 children who had to be evacuated to Switzerland.

Powerful unions staged a crippling strike against the government of President Lansana Conte which elicited a bloody crackdown.

The sweeping protest paralysed Guinea for more than a month, forcing Conte to place the country under martial law for 12 days.

The strike and the protests also forced the government to name a new prime minister of consensus, Lansana Kouyate, to replace Conte's handpicked Eugene Camara, who held office for less than three weeks. - Sapa-AFP