CONAKRY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Guinean President Lansana Conte delegated some of his powers to a new prime minister on Wednesday, complying with a promise made to unions which had locked the nation in a crippling two-week general strike.

In a decree read on state radio, Conte said the new premier -- who is yet to be named -- would be the head of government, free to propose his own team of ministers, organise the country's civil administration and be allowed to represent the head of state at international functions.

Strike leaders had demanded a new premier take over as the head of the West African country's government, a role previously assumed by Conte, because they said the reclusive leader -- a diabetic in his 70s -- was no longer fit to rule.

The unions suspended their strike action on Saturday after receiving a pledge from Conte to appoint a new prime minister with broader powers.

Saturday's agreement was signed by the head of the Supreme Court and the National Assembly as well as union leaders and a representative of business leaders, but had not yet been given Conte's official seal of approval.

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