Sierra Leone arrests ex-president's guard over foiled coup

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone

Authorities in Sierra Leone have arrested a bodyguard of former president Ernest Bai Koroma, over links to last month's foiled coup.

The arrest of Amadu Koita and his accomplices brings the total number of arrests over the coup attempt to 60

Amadu Koita, an ex-soldier, was arrested on Monday alongside two police officers who were harbouring him, Sierra Leone's Information Minister Chernor Bah said on Tuesday.

He added that Mr Koita "was at the top of the wanted list".

On 26 November, gunmen broke into an armoury and several prisons in the capital Freetown, freeing almost 2,000 inmates.

At least 19 people, including 13 soldiers, died in the violence, according to the army.

The arrest of Mr Koita and his accomplices brings the total number of arrests over the coup attempt to 60.

The government on Monday announced that it had arrested 57 people, including 37 military personnel, 10 civilians, four dismissed military personnel, five police personnel and a retired police officer.