Guinean police arrest a protester in the capital Conakry during a protest banned by the country's ruling junta.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has denounced the 'excessive use of force' by security forces in Guinea, who opened fire on opposition protesters, killing at least 87 people.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the UN chief slammed the lethal incident and said he was 'shocked by the loss of life, the high number of people injured and the destruction of property'.

Ban urged Guinean authorities and security forces 'to exercise maximum restraint and to uphold the rule of law, including respect for basic human rights'.

Deadly clashes between security forces and opposition demonstrators in Guinea's capital Conakry erupted after some 50,000 people gathered in a stadium to protest against the junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara who seized power in a bloodless coup last year.

According to an AFP poll, at least 87 people lost their lives in the attack and the number could rise further as some of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

In his first public comment on the violence, Camara told Senegal's RFM radio station that he 'was really disgusted' about the violence and that he would 'rather die' than see people get killed.

International condemnation also mounted on Tuesday, with former colonial ruler France calling on the junta to 'show responsibility and to listen to the Guinean people's legitimate aspiration to democratically choose their leaders'.

Washington also expressed 'deep concern' about the breakdown in Conakry and urged the Guinean government to ensure the safety of its citizens and foreign nationals 'in accordance with universally accepted standards of human rights'.

The protests were held to oppose any bid by Camara or the other junta leaders to run for president in the elections due next January.

Camara had promised that no one in his ruling Junta would run for public office after he took power in last December's coup.

The coup took place in the West African nation hours after the death of Guinea's strongman leader Lansana Conte, who had been in power since 1984.

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