Nov 18, 2009

LONDON (Reuters) - Sierra Leone, trying to rebuild an economy shattered by a decade-long civil war, is confident neighbouring Guinea can avert collapse and will not destabilise the fragile West African region, a senior minister said.

In an interview with Reuters Insider TV, Trade and Industry Minister David Carew said a standoff between Guinea's government and opposition could be solved without descending into the type of violence which tore his country apart in the 1990s.

"We are very concerned naturally," Carew said.

"We are certain that the situation will not deteriorate significantly because they have got experience of what happened to Sierra Leone and I don't think they'll allow that to happen."

Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war killed 50,000 people and pushed out many foreign investors. Carew said it was working with African bodies for a peaceful outcome to the Guinea crisis.

Guinea's opposition is demanding the military junta give up the power it seized last December. Tensions have risen since the September 28 killings of opposition protesters in a soccer stadium by security forces, an incident human rights groups described as a pre-planned massacre.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, attending an investment conference in London with Sierra Leone officials, said he was confident the Guinea crisis need not spill over into neighbouring countries.