Sectarian violence kills 25 in southern Guinea

CONAKRY, Guinea – A government minister says at least 25 people have been killed and a mosque has been destroyed in the West African nation of Guinea.

The fighting took place earlier this week in Galapaye, about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) south of the Guinean capital near the country's border with Liberia.

Government Minister Alhassane Conde confirmed Friday at least 25 people were dead, and another dozen hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

A man who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said that members of the Kpele community, which follows indigenous religious traditions, had attacked members of the Muslim Konianke group.

He said the violence began after a Konianke man wounded someone from the Kpele group who was trying to raze the mosque.