Guinea Official Says Last Week's Ethnic Violence Left 98 Dead

Violence sparked by a lynching ahead of elections

CONAKRY — Three days of ethnic violence in Guinea last week left 98 people dead, nearly double the previous death toll, the government said on Wednesday.

The violence erupted on July 14 after a man accused of being a thief was lynched. It took place during tense preparations for long-delayed elections meant to restore civilian rule after a 2008 military coup.