Bans appeals for calm in Guinea

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for calm in the West African nation of Guinea, where political violence has left about 130 people wounded. "The Secretary-General is concerned about reports of ongoing violent clashes in Guinea, which started in Conakry on Thursday," said a statement released by a UN spokesman. "The Secretary-General calls for calm and urges Guineans to refrain from all acts likely to undermine the ongoing peaceful and democratic process in the country," the statement went on to say. "He urges all political actors to pursue the path of dialogue in order to address outstanding issues related to the electoral process and create the conditions for the holding of peaceful and democratic legislative elections." Violence broke out during a Guinean opposition demonstration in Conakry Wednesday. Thousands had gathered for the latest in a string of demonstrations to demand transparency in elections scheduled for May 12 and protest against the South African company selected to revise the electoral roll. The vote in the troubled West African country was due to have taken place in 2011 and has been postponed several times already.