A parliamentary session in the Bahamas has been dramatically suspended after an opposition MP threw a ceremonial mace out a window.

Shanendon Cartwright, the deputy leader of the opposition, was restrained by police and officials following the incident.

During the scuffle the deputy speaker was struck and taken to hospital, while a police officer suffered a leg injury, Speaker Patricia Deveaux told parliament.

Local media said the melee was sparked when Ms Deveaux refused to allow Opposition Leader Michael Pintard to address allegations in a US indictment accusing federal police of involvement in drug trafficking.

Throwing a mace out a window has historic significance in the country.

In 1965, the leader of the opposition did the same thing in a push for electoral change, in an event dubbed "Black Tuesday".

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