Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has decided to relief all political appointees at the country’s foreign missions including ambassadors and information attachés of their duties.

He has also retired all workers in the public service who have attained the age of 60, except those under special employment approved by parliament.

The actions were contained in an executive order President Maada Bio issued in which he also announced a wide range of measures to reduce financial waste. He also embargoed recruitments in the public service.

The executive order came as parliamentarians went into fisticuffs on Wednesday after they were sworn-in.

Members of Sierra Leone’s opposition All People’s Congress walked out of parliament after police escorted at least 15 of their colleagues from the chamber for disrupting proceedings.

The new parliament elected Abass Bundu of the ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party as speaker despite the absences.

He received 71 votes, less than half of the 146 members. Local AYV Television said four members of a third party abstained from voting to protest police removing elected officials from parliament.

Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party was declared president April 4. But the loser is in court to challenge his election.