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DATE=10/02/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267357

TITLE=GUINEA FIGHTING (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Reports from Guinea say fighting near the country's borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone killed about 70 people over the weekend (Saturday). V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from our West Africa bureau.

TEXT: Military sources in the Guinean capital, Conakry, say rebels attacked government offices and other targets in the country's southern Forecariah region.

Witnesses say most of the approximately 70 victims were civilians.

The raids are the latest in a series of attacks in recent months. The government of President Lansana Conte has blamed the attacks on foreign mercenaries backed by dissidents opposed to the government.

Last month, Mr. Conte called on citizens and soldiers to mobilize against those responsible for the attacks.

Following his remarks, police began rounding up members of Guinea's large Sierra Leonean and Liberian population to check their documents. Many nationals of Sierra Leone and Liberia fled the country, fearing persecution.

In a speech after the latest attacks, Mr. Conte called (Sunday) for regional and international efforts to stop the attacks. He blamed the violence on previous wars in neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. The conflicts over the past decade have sent more than 300-thousand Sierra Leonean and more than 100-thousand Liberian refugees into Guinea.

Guinea has accused Liberia of backing the insurgents -- an accusation that Liberian President Charles Taylor has angrily denied. (Signed)

NEB/LR/KLKBK