Elections violence grips Sierra Leone

By Katrina Manson

FREETOWN (Reuters) - Dozens of people were wounded in street battles between supporters of rival political parties in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown on Saturday ahead of next weekend's presidential runoff.

Police fired tear gas to stop the clashes outside the headquarters of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) which came after several days of violence in the interior.

A Reuters reporter saw around two dozen wounded taken in a police van to a hospital in the coastal city.

The violence came as international observers appealed for calm ahead of next Saturday's election, which has been billed as a test of Sierra Leone's recovery from a 1991-2002 diamond-fuelled civil war which killed more than 50,000 people.

The polls have revealed ethnic fault lines in the nation of more than 5 million people.

Witnesses on the city's streets reported hearing gunshots but police could not confirm whether they came from the crowd.

"Once we get this situation under control, then we can see whether shots were fired," said police commander Tamba Gbekie, who said at least three people had been stabbed.

Police set up roadblocks along Freetown's rock-strewn main thoroughfare, separating the two groups of supporters. Gangs of young men chanting SLPP slogans prowled the streets carrying sticks.