Sierra Leone parliament chaotic as police escort members out

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Members of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress party have walked out of parliament after police escorted at least 15 of their colleagues from the chamber for disrupting proceedings.

Sierra Leone’s newly elected lawmakers were sworn in Wednesday.

The new parliament elected Abass Bundu of the ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party as speaker despite the absences. He received 71 votes, less than half of the 146 members. Local AYV Television says four members of a third party abstained vote to protest police removing elected officials from parliament.

Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party was declared president April 4.

A member of the All People’s Congress party filed a legal challenge to the presidential election two weeks ago, claiming irregularities and asking for a fresh vote.