In Guinea, the government lightened, Wednesday, October 28, the security system in place since the presidential election, especially around the home of the leader of the opposition, while President Alpha Condé, proclaimed winner by the electoral commission, made his first outing in 10 days.

According to provisional results announced on October 24, the 82-year-old head of state was re-elected for a controversial third term, winning 59.5% of the vote cast on October 18.

Opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo was credited with 33.5% of the vote, a score he disputes.

Cellou Dalein Diallo had even proclaimed his victory the day after the election.

Clashes then broke out, for a week before gradually subsiding.

According to the government, the unrest killed 21 people, including members of the security forces.

The opposition denounces for its part a "bloody repression" having killed at least 27 people.

"Concern"

France expressed its "concern" on the situation in Guinea on Wednesday, saying that doubts about the credibility of the results should be "transparently removed".

Also "concerned" by questions surrounding the reliability of the ballot, the United States "condemned the violence" and urged "all parties to resolve electoral disputes peacefully".

"We urge the authorities to immediately investigate allegations of excessive use of force by the security forces," the US embassy in Conakry said in a statement.

For the first time in days, security forces were less present in the suburbs of Conakry, known to be pro-opposition, according to an AFP journalist and witnesses.

While police and gendarmerie vehicles were still present at crossroads in neighborhoods such as Bambéto, Cosa, Wanindara and Sonfonia, the army, which had been deployed as reinforcements, was much less visible.

"We were surprised to note this morning that the soldiers pre-positioned in our sector have packed their bags," said a resident of Sonfonia, Souleymane Bangoura.

Legal action in sight

The security forces which sealed off Cellou Dalein Diallo's home also withdrew.

"We noticed at midday sharp that we could now go out and enter my concession. They packed up without warning," Cellou Dalein Diallo told AFP.

The lifting of this blockade had been demanded the day before by mediators from the Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the UN.

Cellou Dalein Diallo, beaten by Alpha Condé in 2010 and 2015, announced his intention to challenge these results in court.

The opposition has until early next week to lodge an appeal with the Constitutional Court, which will then have five days to deliver the final results.

"See the different victims"

Tuesday evening, Cellou Dalein Diallo welcomed the position taken by the European Union, whose head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell stressed that "questions remain as to the credibility of the result, in particular as regards the resumption of trials -verbals and the final count of votes ".

Outgoing President Alpha Condé made his first public outing since voting day on Wednesday by visiting two hospitals.

He first spoke for half an hour at the Conakry Military Hospital with wounded police and gendarmes in the capital and in the provinces, before visiting Donka Hospital, where civilians are being treated.

"I wanted to see the various victims, both at the level of the police force and the civilians", he explained on his exit, saying to have noticed that "many police forces received buckshot bullets ".

"I congratulate and thank our doctors for the care they practiced on these victims indifferently, whether military or civilian. This is extremely important for us because all Guineans are equal before health and before the law. ", added Alpha Condé.

With AFP

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