Protesters in Guinea on Wednesday clashed with police on the first of several days of planned pro-democracy protests. The protest degenerated into a hail of stone throwing and clouds of tear gas in cities across the West African nation, as protesters demanded a return to civilian rule. They erected makeshift barricades across major streets in the capital Conakry, setting tires on fire as they threw stones and other objects at the police. Security forces responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds.