Canadian police search party HQ

Police have searched the headquarters of Canada's ruling Conservative party during an inquiry into its finances.

Officers went to the Ottawa offices at the request of investigators to carry out a search warrant, and were there for several hours on Tuesday.

Canada's independent election commission is investigating the party's campaign spending during the run-up to parliamentary election two years ago.

Its inquiry into alleged financial irregularities began last year.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) search was linked to a dispute over expenses on advertisements during the election campaign, and said his party had done nothing wrong.

"We remain extremely confident," he said after the search. "Our legal position is rock-solid."

Canada's opposition alleges the Conservatives violated electoral law and concealed the truth during parliamentary questions.

The Conservatives have led a minority government since winning the parliamentary elections in January, 2006.

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