There were fewer soldiers on the streets of Guinea's capital today after martial law ended overnight, but many Conakry residents fear trouble next week after the army ordered an end to a nationwide strike.
Union leaders say President Lansana Conte is unfit to govern and have initiated strikes to force concessions from him.
Yesterday, Guinea's parliament refused a request from Mr Conte to extend martial law, imposed almost two weeks ago to quell violent protests against his rule, in a rare act of defiance against the autocratic leader.
Shortly before martial law lapsed the army chief of staff, Kerfalla Camara, went on state radio and TV hours before martial law lapsed to order an end to the labour stoppage, putting the armed forces on a collision cause with the unions.
Although most shops remained shuttered, cars took to the streets and some market food stalls were open. In outlying suburbs, the shattered glass and charred remains of barrages that had littered the streets have been cleaned up and the soldiers who had guarded main junctions are gone.
But the calm is uneasy. Union leaders want Mr Conte, a reclusive diabetic in his 70s who has ruled since seizing power in 1984, to appoint a new, neutral head of government with powers to hire and fire ministers.
Support for the strike has triggered violent clashes with security forces in towns across the country, killing more than 120 people since the start of the year. Government officials have said the situation borders on an insurrection.
The industrial action had been suspended after Mr Conte agreed to name a consensus prime minister but the unions resumed their strike after the president promoted a close ally, Eugene Camara, to the post.
The imposition of martial law had restored some order to the former French colony, keeping protesters off the streets by giving the army the right to shoot looters and troublemakers. But civil rights groups have accused the security forces of shooting, raping and beating civilians during the unrest.