Guinean President Lansana Conte on Monday declared a state of emergency in the West African country in an effort to end the violent protests against his rule, according to reports from the capital Conakry.

Conte told state television that he had decided to decree martial law across the country, considering "the destruction and the losses in terms of human life" in Guinea.

The law will last until Feb. 23, during which demonstrations and any "public or private meetings likely to jeopardize social order" are prohibited.

The country will also be under curfew, prohibiting the "movement of people, vehicles or goods" in the whole territory, Conte said.

Meanwhile, the 72-year-old president ordered the army to take all necessary measures to maintain public order and protect the people "from the risk of a civil war."

Labor Unions in Guinea called on a general strike on Monday. Protesters clashed with riot police in the capital Conakry and Nzerekore and Macenta, claiming at least 18 lives.

Union leaders said they resumed the national stoppage because without negotiating with them or opposition parties, Conte named a close ally, Eugene Camara, State Minister of Presidential Affairs and Coordination of Government, as the new prime minister on Friday.

The alliance between labor unions and opposition parties threatened an unlimited general strike from Monday to force the resignation of Conte.

Demonstrations and national strikes since Jan. 10 have killed more than 100 people. The unions demanded Conte set up a government of national unity, appoint a consensus prime minister and improve the living standard of the people.

The unions later called off the strikes after they reached an agreement with the government on Jan. 27 that Conte appoint a consensus prime minister who is not a member of his current government.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2007)