EU Imposes
Arms Sanctions On Guinea
The
European Union has imposed an arms embargo on Guinea and placed
sanctions on its military leaders.
In a statement,
the EU said, the sanctions are to target "members of the CNDD
and individual associated with them, responsible for the violent
crackdown or the political stalemate."
EU foreign
ministers agreed on the sanctions for Captain Camara and his
ruling Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) at a meeting
in Luxembourg.
The EU said
there had been a gross violation of human rights when troops
opened fire on protesters last month.
Rights groups
say 157 protesters died and many others were raped and beaten.
Officials say about 57 people died.
The
demonstrators were angry at rumours that Captain Moussa Dadis
Camara, who took power in a coup last December, intended to
stand for president next year.
Earlier this
month, the EU's development chief, Karel de Gucht said the coup
leader should be put on trial for crimes against humanity.
The
International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation
into the deaths and a UN inquiry is also under way.
West Africa's
regional economic body, ECOWAS has already imposed an arms
embargo on Guinea over the killings.
Guinea's
previous government was overthrown in a bloodless coup last
December after the death of Lansana Conte, who had ruled the
country since 1984.
BBC/Yinka
