At least two people have died after a miners' strike escalated into violence in Sierra Leone's eastern diamond-rich district of Kono.
Junior workers at the Israeli-owned Octea Diamond Mining had been on an indefinite sit-down strike demanding better working conditions, reports Africa Review.
Workers had presented a 15-point demand that included a three-month bonus allegedly promised by management.
Some reports say the protesters burned tyres near the offices of the company.
The fracas, however, escalated when the workers reportedly stoned a motorcade carrying the current Mines minister, prompting police to respond with live rounds.
Octea Diamond Mining Group had so far invested $300 million in the country and was targeting an output of 45,000 carats per month.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
