US Ambassador To Malawi Affected By Police Tear Gas Attack On Opposition - Reports

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2019) US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer was holding a meeting inside the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) headquarters as police fired tear gas at the compound to disperse anti-government protesters, local media have reported.

The African country has been rocked by protests that followed re-election of President Peter Mutharika from the Democratic Progressive Party. On Tuesday, MCP supporters besieged government offices in capital Lilongwe in protest against the results of May's presidential election.

The Malawi24 news outlet reported on Thursday that Palmer was holding a meeting with opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera as part of a series of talks with various political forces, timed to her departure.

According to the outlet, the police had admitted that they had fired tear gas on opposition supporters but noted they were unaware that the ambassador was inside the building.

"When the police were firing tear gas we did not know anything until when she came out of the office," police spokesman James Kadadzera said, as quoted by the outlet.

The police also reportedly fired teargas at the US embassy building which is located next to the MCP headquarters.