Guinea-Conakry:59 people injured in Guinea mosque as frustrated youths were barred

At least 59 people were injured in Guinea on Saturday when frustrated youth that were being kept out of the opening of a new mosque in the town of Timbo clashed with the police, Reuters reports health officials to say.

Security officials stopped ordinary people from entering the new mosque to allow local dignitaries to pass but the youth became angry, began throwing stones and attempted to force themselves in. The police repelled them by hurling teargas canisters at them.

“There was a huge clash between the police and the young people and clouds of tear gas. I saw old women pushed over by the surging crowd. It was serious,” said Latif Haidera, a witness.

Mamadou Kouyate, the director of the regional hospital at Mamou, said 59 people were treated at his hospital alone following the incident on Friday in Timbo, which is about 260 km (163 miles) northeast of the capital Conakry.