A government spokesman says recent clashes in Guinea's southeast forest region killed 95 and injured hundreds, a significant increase over numbers provided last week.
Albert Camara told The Associated Press today that the violence was partly due to the large flow of arms in the region, and he raised the possibility that former rebels from Liberia as well as fighters trained under a former Guinean junta leader were involved.
Witnesses said the violence began July 15 in a village outside N'Zerekore when members of the Guerze ethnic group beat a young Konianke man to death after accusing him of stealing from a gas station.
Officials previously put the death toll at 54. Residents began burying the dead in common graves shortly after the violence stopped, fueling rumours of higher fatalities.
