Conakry - The army and striking police officers clashed in Guinea leaving at least two people dead, reports said Wednesday.

Police have been striking over pay and conditions since Monday, briefly holding the chief of the police force hostage before releasing him.

Clashes at a police camp late Tuesday saw at least two policemen killed, while other reports said that two soldiers were killed.

The strike followed an army mutiny in late May. Police officers are demanding better salaries and supplies of rice.

According to the United Nations' humanitarian news service IRIN, soldiers were seen looting the camp after the fighting, loading refrigerators and furniture into their trucks.

The army mutiny ended when Guinea's prime minister agreed to pay up to 12 years in back wages - around 5 million Guinean francs (1,140 dollars) for each soldier.

The mutiny was also said to be linked to the sacking of Lansana Kouyate, who President Lansana Conte appointed in 2007 to bring to an end a period of deadly riots and protests.

Opposition and trade union leaders were furious over Kouyate's sacking, and tensions have remained high in the West African Nation.

Conte took control of Guinea in a bloodless coup in 1984 and has since kept a tight grip on the nation.

He has won three presidential elections since restoring civilian rule in 1993, after a referendum changed the constitution to remove a two-term limit. (dpa)