President pardons 149 fans arrested during AFCON clashes

Malabo: Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang has pardoned 149 people who were arrested following clashes during the host country`s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final defeat to Ghana.

All those arrested have been released, Martin Ndong Nsue, president of Malabo Supreme Court confirmed on Friday.

"We were ready to go to trial for you to be punished ... but the President of the Republic Teodoro Obiang, in his role as chief magistrate of the nation and father of all of you, has forgiven you and you are free," Ndong Nsue said.

The match in Malabo on February 5 was interrupted for nearly 30 minutes due to missiles thrown by the home nation`s fans.

Obiang had blasted the "childish behaviour" of Equatorial Guinea fans who turned on Ghanaian supporters, pelting them with plastic bottles and chairs, with the unsavoury scenes leaving 36 injured.

The 2015 Nations Cup hosts were fined $100,000 by organisers, the Confederation of African football.