Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to establish an international commission of inquiry into last month’s massacre in Guinea in which at least 150 people died.

Haile Menkerios, assistant secretary-general for political affairs at the UN, traveled to West Africa at the weekend to “consider the modalities” for setting up the commission, the UN News Centre said on its Web site.

Soldiers opened fire at a stadium in the Guinean capital, Conakry, on Sept. 28 after demonstrations by opposition supporters protesting plans by Moussa Dadis Camara, the leader of the country’s military junta, to run in Jan. 31 presidential elections. Guinea’s opposition contends more than 200 people were killed and 150 women were raped by members of the military during the crackdown.

Last week, the International Criminal Court said it is investigating whether war crimes were committed in the incident.

Ban “remains deeply concerned by the tense situation in Guinea” following the crackdown, the UN said. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the incident as a “blood bath.”

Camara seized power on Dec. 23, a day after the death of President Lansana Conte, who had ruled the country for two decades. He suspended the constitution and pledged to relinquish control to a civilian government and not to run in national elections. He later said he may be a candidate, sparking the protests.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alpha Camara in Conakry via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 19, 2009 04:53 EDT