By Saliou Samb CONAKRY, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Ten months after a popular revolt against President Lansana Conte, Guinea's stability is fragile and free elections are needed within six months to bring about democratic change, an international think tank said on Thursday. The International Crisis Group said in a report that Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate, named by Conte in February in a deal to end the unrest, had not convinced Guineans his government represented a real break from the past 23 years under Conte. "The mood today is grim. Although inflation has slowed, initial enthusiasm has been replaced with doubt over the capabilities and will of the new government to break with the Conte system and alleviate daily economic difficulties," the Brussels-based think tank said. "Guinea's stability is as fragile as ever," ICG added in the report entitled "Change on Hold", which urged foreign donors to back democratic reforms and fair elections in the world's leading exporter of bauxite, from which aluminium is made. During a crippling general strike and violent anti-Conte protests in January and February, more than 130 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured, many shot by the security forces which remain the mainstay of the president's power. Kouyate's nomination by Conte as a consensus premier was generally met with approval in the former French colony, but since then anger at the high price of basic commodities and a lack of transparency in government has resurfaced. In September, police in the capital Conakry fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators throwing stones and burning tyres in protest at the cost of goods such as rice. ICG urged Kouyate, democratic forces in Guinea and the international community to revive the momentum for change. "Free, fair and transparent legislative elections are needed within the next six months to begin the true process of dismantling the Conte system by democratic means," it said. Parliamentary elections, originally due in June, were put back to December and seem certain to be delayed further. ICG said Conte's entourage and supporters were still manoeuvring to regain full power, not least by playing on popular disappointment to provoke splits between the trade unions, civil society organisations and opposition parties that spearheaded the January and February protests. "It is Conte ... who remains the prime obstacle to improvement in the lives of Guineans," the group said. It added the February deal with opponents kept the president, who is in his 70s and suffers from diabetes, as the country's constitutional leader. "He ... can and does easily stall government action," ICG said. It recommended Kouyate start a national dialogue on reform with unions, civil society and political parties. To contain the danger posed by the army, his government should open a dialogue with it on security sector reform, ICG said. (Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Giles Elgood)
