Police and Protesters Clash in Guinea After President Files For 3rd Term

(AP) Clashes between police and protesters erupted on Thursday in Conakry after Guinean President Alpha Conde filed papers before the Constitutional Court to run for a third term in October’s elections.

For months, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Guinea to protest against another term for Conde.

The 82 year-old president arrived on Thursday afternoon at the court with a strong security detail and escorted by soldiers.

He insists he is following the will of the people by running this October after a public referendum in March reset the presidential term limits.

The vote has been widely condemned as not credible.

Later in the day, police used tear gas against demonstrators in another part of the city, who were protesting the candidacy of Conde and the killing of a 21-year-old man during a rally this week.

Since March, more than 30 people have died in protests against Conde.

In 2010 he became Guinea’s first democratically elected president since the country’s independence from France in 1960.

Many Guineans celebrated his election as it ended the turmoil that had followed the death of longtime dictator Lansana Conte, who had exploited the country’s riches for nearly a quarter century.

But Conde’s proposal has raised fears that he is becoming increasingly authoritarian and sets the stage for a violent election season in Guinea, where presidential polling will take place on October 18.

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