US election: Gun ban sought at Republican convention

Tensions are high after two recent shootings that left eight police officers dead

Cleveland police have asked Ohio's governor to suspend open-carry gun rights during the Republican National Convention. 

The request comes after three officers were shot dead in Louisiana on Sunday. The governor said he did not have the power to suspend the law, which allows licensed gun owners to carry weapons.

Police want to temporarily ban a law that allows licensed gun owners to carry their weapons in public

Police have tightened security in Cleveland, where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be confirmed as the nominee. Among the speakers due to appear on Monday evening are Mr Trump's wife Melania and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, on a theme of Make America Safe Again.

Protesters rally outside the Republican National Convention

The convention begins amid high tensions, a day after a man killed three police officers in Baton Rouge, prompting Mr Trump to say the country was falling apart - a claim strongly disputed by President Barack Obama.

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Police have tightened security ahead of the event

People are not allowed to take guns into Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena, which is hosting the four-day event, or in a secure zone outside. But some people were photographed openly wearing guns nearby.

"I don't care what the legal precedent is, I feel strongly that leadership needs to stand up and defend these police officers," said Steve Loomis, the head of the police union who is making the request.

Mr Loomis urged Governor John Kasich to declare a state of emergency and issue the temporary ban as protesters gathered in Cleveland a day before the four-day convention was due to begin.

1. What's the point? Each party formally nominates its candidates for president and vice president, and the party unveils its party platform, or manifesto.

2. Who is going? There are 2,472 delegates attending, selected at state and congressional district conventions, and representing each US state and territory. Plus 15,000 journalists and thousands of other party grandees, lawmakers and guests.

3. Who isn't going? Some senior figures who don't like Donald Trump have stayed away, including two ex-presidents named Bush, former nominee Mitt Romney and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

4. What's the schedule?

• Monday speakers - Melania Trump, Senator Joni Ernst, former NYC Mayor Rudi Giuliani
• Tuesday - House Speaker Paul Ryan, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
• Wednesday - VP nominee Mike Pence
• Thursday - Donald Trump, introduced by daughter Ivanka. Thousands of federal and state law enforcement officers have descended on the city over the past week in preparation for the convention, ramping up security protocols as delegates, attendees and demonstrators pour into Cleveland.

About 50,000 people are expected to travel to Cleveland during the four-day event, with protests and rallies expected to take place throughout the week. Many of Mr Trump's previous campaign events have been marred by heated protests and violent outbursts across the country.

Tensions have also been high between police and protesters amid a recent string of violence, which included the police shootings of two black men as well as an attack in Dallas that left five police officers dead.

On Sunday, the violence continued in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where a gunman shot and killed three officers and injured three others, one critically, near the city's police headquarters.