OTTAWA (AFP) — Canadian police Tuesday searched the offices of the Conservative party at the request of the country’s election commission, which has accused the ruling party of campaign finance irregularities.

“I can confirm that the federal election commission asked for assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in executing a search warrant,” Elections Canada spokesman John Enright told AFP.

An RCMP official stated that police responded to a “request for assistance” from the independent commission, but would not provide details of the operation.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative party confirmed that its offices were searched.

Elections Canada did not explain the reason for the search, but broadcaster CBC quoted Conservative House leader Peter Van Loan as saying the search was “in relation to the issue of the campaign financing questions and our approach on spending.”

The Conservative party won parliamentary elections on January 23, 2006 and has led a minority government.

The commission launched an investigation in 2007 into what it believes were Conservative party campaign finance irregularities. The body refused to reimburse close to 1.2 million dollars to candidates for television and radio campaign advertisements.

Canada’s opposition accused the conservatives violating the electoral law and concealing the truth during a questioning session in the House of Commons.

Harper, who heads the Conservative party, said the search took place on the eve of interviews of Elections Canada officials by Conservative party lawyers.