Guinea: President Suspends Officials following Accusations of Theft

President Lansana Conte has suspended more than 100 elected officials in the capital Conakry after accusing them of stealing subsidised rice which was meant to be sold cheaply through local government offices to the city's poor. The move followed a spate of attacks on trucks carrying rice by gangs of angry youths. Conte said on Tuesday that the government had reached an agreement with private traders to sell the rice at a controlled price of 40,000 francs (US$14) per 50 kg bag instead. A bag of rice currently sells on the free market for $20.