One shot dead during Guinea fuel protest

A young man has been shot dead in the Guinean capital Conakry on the sidelines of a protest against rising fuel prices, his family said Thursday.

"Thierno Mamadou Diallo was shot in the head" on Wednesday, Halimatou Diallo, the victim's sister, said. 

Police and a public prosecutor have confirmed the death of a 19-year-old and promised to open an investigation.

It is one of the first civilian killings tied to clashes between security forces and demonstrators since Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power from former president Alpha Conde in September last year.

The two years leading up to the coup saw frequent protests against the former president's plan to seek a third term.

Human rights organisations say security forces killed dozens of civilian protesters during that period. Since then, Guinea has seen little to no unrest -- until this week's announcement of a gasoline price hike.

Diallo's relatives say he was hit while out in the Hamdallaye district, where young people were demonstrating against the fuel price hikes.

His sister said he was caught in the fray when young people began throwing stones at a passing convoy of police and gendarmes.

"In the confusion, my brother took a bullet to the head," she said.

An adoptive sister, Tahirou Diallo, said her brother was not taking part in the protest.

She said he was out on an errand and was shot on his way back.