afrol News, 28 August - The outgoing Sierra Leonean leader Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has threatened to enforce a state of emergency if the electoral violence continues to rock the country.

Sierra Leone - a country reeling with fragile peace - conducted what was described as free, fair and credible general election on 11 August.

Seven candidates, including the Vice President, Solomon Berewa who vied for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, battled it out for the country’s highest position. None of the candidates was able to poll 52% of the valid results, although the leader of the main opposition APC, Ernest Bai Koroma, led with 44% compared to Mr Berewa’s 38%.

After declaring the results, the electoral commission confirmed that second round voting between Koroma and Berewa was scheduled for 8 September. But the campaign has been punctuated with days of clashes between supporters of the two candidates.

President Kabbah said his country and its citizens had suffered too much during the decade-long brutal civil war and as such there would be zero tolerance for chaos and civil unrest in the country again.

"All those responsible for the violence and lawlessness should be prepared for the consequences," he warned sternly in a televised speech. He had appealed to the two opposing candidates to ask their supporters to remain calm.

"The government shall not hesitate for one moment to declare a state of public emergency if the current state of intimidation, molestation and violent acts is not stopped immediately."

Anti-riot police have been deployed on patrol in the capital Freetown and Kono town, dispersing rival supporters in the streets with teargas. The situation is now under control, the police confirmed.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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