20111228
AFP
Guinea's government pledged Tuesday to listen to opposition and civil society groups as they seek agreement on when to stage parliamentary elections in the west African country.

Guinea last week indefinitely postponed a vote that had been scheduled for this Thursday after the opposition complained it had not been consulted on the date and accused the regime of planning sham polls.

At an "inclusive dialogue" meeting Tuesday with opposition groups, Territorial Administration Minister Alhassane Conde pledged that President Alpha Conde's government would "listen to" all sides.

"The organisation of transparent and credible legislative elections in a peaceful environment as soon as possible is a challenge, and would be a major boon for the completion of the transition," the minister said.

President Conde, who had been a veteran opposition leader during years of despotic rule, was elected in November 2010 in the country's first free polls since independence in 1958.