(Recasts with U.S. statement, planned Saturday meeting)

By Saliou Samb

CONAKRY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The United States, France and African leaders urged Guinea's President Lansana Conte on Friday to end martial law and negotiate a political settlement with opponents contesting his rule over the West African country.

As human rights groups accused Conte's security forces of shooting, beating and robbing civilians under martial law, the Guinean president came under intense international pressure to avoid further turmoil in the world's leading bauxite exporter.

The seaside capital Conakry and upcountry towns are under tight military control four days after Conte declared a 12-day state of siege to quell a popular rebellion, triggered by a general strike against his 23-year autocratic rule.

The killings since early January of more than 120 people, mostly unarmed civilians, in clashes with soldiers and police have drawn sharp international condemnation of Conte.

"The United States is deeply concerned over the crisis in Guinea ... We condemn the suspension -- even partial -- of civilian rule, the use of lethal force against the civilian population, the abrogation of basic freedoms, and the roll-back of the democratic process," the U.S. government said.

It called for martial law to be lifted and the return of the military to their barracks.

"The disorder that plagues Guinea reflects widespread popular discontent caused by decades of poor governance," the U.S. embassy in Conakry said in a statement.

Hosting a summit of African leaders in Cannes, French President Jacques Chirac also called for a democratic solution in the former French colony which became independent in 1958.

"We have adopted a resolution ... firmly calling on Guinean authorities ... to protect the civilian population, to launch a political process," Chirac told a news conference.

Chirac said French planes and ships were ready to evacuate, if necessary, some 2,000 French citizens from Guinea, as well as Lebanese, U.S. and other citizens. The United States has already flown some of its nationals out.

Guinean union leaders and state officials, who held talks on Thursday, were due to meet again on Saturday to try to thrash out a solution that would end the strike and lift martial law.

ECOWAS MISSION

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS said it was sending former Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida to Guinea at the weekend to try to broker a settlement.

Opposition and union leaders say Conte, a chain-smoking general and reclusive diabetic in his 70s, is not fit to rule and should cede powers to a government led by an independent prime minister agreed on by consensus.

They are demanding that Conte, who has ruled since seizing power in a 1984 coup, annul his choice last week of a close ally, Eugene Camara, to be prime minister.

U.S.-based Human Rights Watch accused Guinea's security forces of using martial law to "terrorise" ordinary Guineans.

"Under the guise of reestablishing law and order, they're acting like common criminals, beating, robbing and brutalizing the population they're supposed to protect," HRW's Africa director, Peter Takirambudde, said in a statement.

Guinean authorities on Friday lifted martial law at the country's main bauxite mine, Sangaredi, to allow a restart of halted exports of bauxite, the country's economic lifeblood.

Some analysts have warned the heavy-handed military crackdown could lead to a possible civil war which could spread beyond Guinea's borders in a volatile region. (Additional reporting by Kirsten Gemlich in Paris)

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