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CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) - Soldiers protesting the government's failure to give them promised pay raises beat a shopkeeper to death as they looted his store and fired shots in the air, wounding at least 25 civilians, police and witnesses said Friday.
The soldiers are asking for back pay dating from a 1996 promise by President Lansana Conte to add to their salaries. He made the pledge to put down a mutiny in the army.
"We don't want to frighten the population, but Lansana Conte owes money to us, the soldiers," said Lt. Mamadou Bah Diallo, who is stationed in the capital of Conakry.
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