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Clashes erupt as Sierra Leone celebrates Independence Day

Sierra Leone

Police fired guns and teargas at the headquarters of an opposition party and arrested supporters during celebrations for Sierra Leone’s Independence Day on Wednesday, the party and police confirmed.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the headquarters of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to celebrate the holiday and the party’s founding in 1951. The day is celebrated with carnival-like dances in the streets.

“We warned them not to come out with their masquerade because they did not have a permit to do so,” police official Al Shek Kamara said.

Brima Koroma, an SLPP administrator, said the party had been denied the permit. The police had fired tear gas and live rounds, he added.

“They also ransacked our party office, roughed up and arrested some of our members,” Koroma said.

#SierraLeone police say 50 arrested in connection with yesterday's skirmishes btn police & opposition supporters. Among them women's leader.

— Umaru Fofana (@UmaruFofana) April 28, 2016

Neither he nor the police said how many arrests had occurred. Police did not confirm that they had fired live rounds.

The clash took place two years before a presidential election. Supporters have urged President Ernest Bai Koroma to extend his mandate beyond his two-term limit, although he has denied through his spokesman that he had such a plan.

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