Protesters in Benin clash with police in post-election violence

Security forces in Benin’s largest city Cotonou have fired weapons to disperse crowds protesting the exclusion of opposition parties from parliamentary polls held on Sunday.

Hundreds of people have been protesting erecting makeshift barricades of burning tyres and calling on president Patrice Talon to step down.

Troops and riot police used firearms to break up the protest late on Thursday.

The protests began hours after initial results showed a record low turnout in the election on Wednesday.