Witnesses in Guinea say at least three people were killed in clashes with security officers in the 11th day of a strike that has paralyzed the nation.
Police and protesters clashed in the capital and several other cities again Saturday. At least five people have now been killed in unrest related to the strike.
Regional leaders addressed the issue while attending the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) summit Friday in Burkina Faso.
They called for a high-level peace delegation to travel to Guinea immediately in an attempt to end the violence.
Union leaders called the strike in an effort to force President Lansana Conte to resign and make way for a new government led by a civilian prime minister. Strikers say they are protesting corruption and what they say is Mr. Conte's erratic behavior.
The strike has disrupted business activity in the capital, and officials say Guinea's key bauxite industry has been affected.
Protesters also are angry about Mr. Conte's decision to release two prominent corruption suspects from prison. The unions say the strike will continue until the two men are returned to prison.
Mr. Conte took office following a 1984 coup. The president is in his 70s and said to be in poor health.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
