2006年VOA标准英语-Guinea Strike Turns Violent

（单词翻译）

By Nico Colombant
Abidjan
12 June 2006

A general strike in Guinea has turned violent as it enters a second week. Students are starting their own protests as they have been unable to begin their exams.

Security forces fired tear gas and wielded¹ batons² to disperse³ students who were marching toward Conakry's city center.

Witnesses said at least three students were injured.

Earlier, the students sang and waved placards reading "Change, Now or Never."

In the Kipe suburb, police also fired tear gas to disperse students who had set up barricades⁴ with school desks, chairs, and tires.

The government had promised year-end exams would begin as scheduled Monday, but volunteers were unable to travel to exam sites because there was no public transportation.

In several more remote parts of Guinea, students smashed government buildings.

Guinea's protest action took a turn toward violence Saturday after students accused army soldiers of looting empty campuses. During the unrest, a student was killed when a truck overturned.

The nationwide protest began Thursday with unions demanding higher salaries for government workers and lower gasoline prices. Union activists⁵ say so far the government has made proposals that favor teachers but not other workers.

Shops and government buildings remain empty, even though the government said Sunday it had fulfilled the demands of protesters. But the government said it would be "merciless" in dealing⁶ with troublemakers⁷.

Another five-day strike took place earlier this year amid soaring prices and crumbling⁸ infrastructure⁹.

President Lansana Conte, a diabetic chain smoker¹⁰ who can barely walk, has been in power since a coup¹¹ in 1984. The past few years have been marked by a crackdown against dissenters¹² in the army, and his failing health.