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Sierra Leone VP Samuel Sam-Sumana 'goes into hiding' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Sierra Leone's Vice-President Samuel Sam-Sumana has gone into hiding while he seeks political asylum at the US embassy in the capital, Freetown. | |
Mr Sam-Sumana told the BBC he and his wife fled their home after "a tip-off" that soldiers were surrounding it. | |
The move comes a week after his expulsion from the ruling party. | The move comes a week after his expulsion from the ruling party. |
Two weeks ago, Mr Sam-Sumana said he was putting himself in quarantine for 21 days after one of his bodyguards died of the Ebola virus. | Two weeks ago, Mr Sam-Sumana said he was putting himself in quarantine for 21 days after one of his bodyguards died of the Ebola virus. |
Police and army sources confirmed to the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown that troops were sent to the vice-president's residence on Saturday morning. | Police and army sources confirmed to the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown that troops were sent to the vice-president's residence on Saturday morning. |
They said the troops were dispatched to withdraw Mr Sam-Sumana's security detail, but would not say whose orders they were acting on. | They said the troops were dispatched to withdraw Mr Sam-Sumana's security detail, but would not say whose orders they were acting on. |
However, Information Minister Alpha Kanu told the BBC that the soldiers merely went to Mr Sam-Sumana's house to "strengthen the quarantine". | |
'No US action' | 'No US action' |
"I don't feel safe this morning as vice-president," Mr Sam-Sumana told the AP news agency by phone. He said he had spoken to US Ambassador John Hoover and was waiting for a response. | |
US embassy spokeswoman Hollyn Green said embassy officials, including Mr Hoover, had "seen the news" but could not provide any reaction. | US embassy spokeswoman Hollyn Green said embassy officials, including Mr Hoover, had "seen the news" but could not provide any reaction. |
"There is no comment at the moment and there is no action on our part," Ms Green told AP. | "There is no comment at the moment and there is no action on our part," Ms Green told AP. |
Mr Sam-Sumana was expelled from the ruling All People's Congress Party (APC) last week on allegations of "orchestrating political violence" and trying to form a new party in his home district of Kono. | |
He was also accused of falsifying academic credentials. He denied the allegations - calling them "baseless fabrications and lies" - and rejected calls for his resignation. | He was also accused of falsifying academic credentials. He denied the allegations - calling them "baseless fabrications and lies" - and rejected calls for his resignation. |
Under Sierra Leone's constitution he cannot be sacked, but he could be removed through a parliamentary impeachment. | |
Speaking to the BBC, APC Secretary General Osman Yansaneh refused to rule out impeachment proceedings against Mr Sam-Sumana. | |
Relations between Mr Sam-Sumana and President Ernest Bai Koroma have long been frosty, our correspondent reports. | Relations between Mr Sam-Sumana and President Ernest Bai Koroma have long been frosty, our correspondent reports. |
Mr Sam-Sumana, 53, has been vice-president since 2007, when he first stood as Mr Koroma's running mate. President Koroma is now serving his second and final term. | Mr Sam-Sumana, 53, has been vice-president since 2007, when he first stood as Mr Koroma's running mate. President Koroma is now serving his second and final term. |
According to a biography on the presidential website, Mr Sam-Sumana has spent time studying and working in the US, and is an expert in diamond mining. | According to a biography on the presidential website, Mr Sam-Sumana has spent time studying and working in the US, and is an expert in diamond mining. |
He said two weeks ago that he had chosen to be quarantined to "lead by example" in the battle against Ebola. | He said two weeks ago that he had chosen to be quarantined to "lead by example" in the battle against Ebola. |
More than 3,500 people have died from Ebola in Sierra Leone, which along with Guinea and Liberia has seen the vast majority of deaths from the disease. | More than 3,500 people have died from Ebola in Sierra Leone, which along with Guinea and Liberia has seen the vast majority of deaths from the disease. |