Guinea has replaced its election chief five days before a presidential run-off, in a move seen as aiming to quell rising violence linked to the vote. Two supporters of presidential hopeful Cellou Dalein Diallo were killed earlier as police opened fire on crowds demanding the removal of election commission head Lounceny Camara. The country's military rulers later said a soldier would replace Mr Camara.

Guinea hope the vote will draw a line under decades of authoritarian rule. But the first round in June failed to give anyone a clear majority, and the run-off has been delayed several times because of violence between rival activists, and widespread claims of fraud. Mr Diallo's supporters took legal action against Mr Camara, and the case was due to be heard later this week. Analysts had already expressed concern that replacing the election head in the week before the run-off could put the whole process in doubt again