A senior EU official says Guinea's military ruler should be tried for crimes against humanity in connection with a deadly crackdown on protesters last month.
Karel de Gucht, the EU's humanitarian aid commissioner, says the September 28 shooting of opposition protesters by Guinean soldiers was a crime against the Guinean people.
Speaking Wednesday in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, De Gucht says he believes Guinea's military chief, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, will have to appear in court over the incident "sooner or later."
The United Nations and a local human rights group say 157 people were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators in Guinea's capital, Conakry. Guinea's government says only 57 people died, and attributes most of the deaths to a stampede.
West African leaders plan to meet in Nigeria on Saturday to discuss tensions in Guinea. The African Union also is due to hold a meeting Saturday to consider imposing sanctions on Guinea's military rulers.
The AU has expressed concern that Captain Camara might break a promise not to run for president in upcoming elections.
Camara took power in a coup last December, following the death of Guinea's longtime president, Lansana Conte.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
