Opposition MPs in Sierra Leone have boycotted their parliamentary swearing-in ceremony following elections last month.
The All People’s Congress (APC) won 54 out of 149 seats, according to results announced by the electoral commission which the opposition disputes.
The APC has demanded the resignation of the election commission chief and a rerun of the vote within six months.
US ambassador to Sierra Leone David Reimer had urged against the boycott, saying “a vibrant democracy needs a strong opposition – those who voted for the opposition need to have their voices heard”.
But APC leader Samura Kamara, the losing presidential contender, tweeted: “Under normal circumstances, each day forward means progress. In our political journey however in Sierra Leone, a new day now means going backwards.”