Two men walk along an empty street in front of closed shops in Conakry, yesterday. Guinean President Lansana Conte declared martial law in the West African country on Monday to curb a wave of violent protests lead by unions opposed to his 23-year rule. Martial law in Guinea forbids all public meetings, empowers the military to arrest anyone they believe threatens state security and imposes a strict curfew. - Reuters

CONAKRY (Reuters)

Guinea's military enforced draconian martial law measures across the West African state yesterday, quashing protests and arresting curfew-breakers to halt a widening revolt against President Lansana Conte's rule.

The United States Government said it would airlift some of its citizens out of the riot-torn West African state. Conte, who has resisted opposition calls to step down, declared an 11-day state of siege late on Monday, handing sweeping search-and-arrest powers to the armed forces which have faithfully supported him since he seized power 23 years ago.

The diabetic, chain-smoking, reclusive president, whom critics say is unfit to rule, sent in the army to end rioting and looting that accompanied the relaunch by unions on Monday of a general strike after Conte named an ally as prime minister.

Sporadic gunfire was heard in some neighbourhoods of the dilapidated seaside capital, Conakry, where residents said heavily-armed soldiers and police broke up pockets of young protesters, cleared barricades and rounded up curfew breakers.

"There were some youths who tried to put barricades back up again, and we chased them off," a police officer said.

The martial law measures restricted civilians to their homes for all but four hours of the day — from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. — and gave the armed forces sweeping powers to detain suspects, as well as control over broadcasting, the press and communications.

An 18-day work stoppage last month paralysed the former French colony and sparked violence that has so far killed more than 110 people in union-led protests against Conte.