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    July 19, 2011

Guinean President Survives Attack on House

   VOA News
   Guinea President Alpha Conde reviews an honor guard at his arrival at
   the Elysee Palace, in Paris for a meeting with French President Nicolas
   Sarkozy (File Photo - March 23, 2011)
   Photo: AP
   Guinea President Alpha Conde reviews an honor guard at his arrival at
   the Elysee Palace, in Paris for a meeting with French President Nicolas
   Sarkozy (File Photo - March 23, 2011)

   Guinean President Alpha Conde escaped an assassination attempt early
   Tuesday when unidentified gunmen attacked his home.
   Conde, who was not injured in the assault, later appeared on state
   television and appealed for calm.
   Witnesses reported hearing heavy shooting overnight at the president's
   home in the Kipe suburb of the capital, Conakry. In his speech, Conde
   said the fighting lasted about two hours, and he thanked the
   presidential guard which said "fought heroically."
   A minister in the Guinean presidency, Francois Fall, says one member of
   the guard was killed.
   A witness in Conakry told VOA the military has sealed the area
   surrounding Conde's home.
   There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.
   President Conde took office seven months ago after winning Guinea's
   first democratic election since the country won independence in 1958.
   The mineral-rich nation has a history of coups, the most recent coming
   in December 2008, after the death of longtime ruler Lansana Conte.
   A transition government led by General Sekouba Konate steered the
   country to a presidential election last year.

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