Street protests turned violent in Guinea's capital, Conakry, today, with seven people killed, as demonstrators threw stones and set up burning-tyre barricades while criticising the president for appointing an ally as prime minister.
The four victims were brought to Donka hospital in Conakry, with their bodies showing signs of bullet wounds, Dr Ousmane Bah said, adding that it appeared they all had been teenagers.
"There are lots of injured people. We are overwhelmed," Dr Bah said.
President Lansana Conte, who seized power in a 1984 coup, had agreed last month to share power by appointing a new prime minister, a key demand of union leaders who led a 17-day strike calling for Conte's resignation.
But according to the agreement, the new prime minister could not be a current member of Conte's government - a condition he violated by appointing Cabinet member Eugene Camara.
Union leaders were expected to meet later today to discuss whether to call a new strike on Monday. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
A two-week national strike last month brought the West African nation to an economic standstill and quickly spiralled into violent street protests, leaving at least 59 dead in clashes with security forces.