FRANCE URGE NATIONALS TO LEAVE GUINEA

France has urged its nationals to leave Guinea, amid growing criticism of the military junta. There are believed to be some 2,500 French nationals, mainly aid workers businessmen and their families, in the mineral-rich former French colony. Human rights groups say some 157 people died after troops opened fire on opposition protesters last month. The African Union has told the military leader to step down by Saturday, amid calls for him to be charged. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened a preliminary investigation into the deaths. Human rights groups say soldiers raped and sexually abused women during the crackdown. The military government puts the number of dead at 57 and says most were trampled to death and not shot.