Gabon: 2 dead in post-election violence

LIBREVILLE, Gabon

Gabonese opposition leader Jean Ping said Thursday that two people had been killed and several others injured in an attack on his headquarters by the security forces in the capital Libreville.

The allegation comes amid serious clashes between police and protesters opposed to the recent re-election of Ali Bongo as head of state.

Ping said: "The Republican Guard attacked our headquarters at 1.00 a.m. (0000GMT). Its elements have carried out a bombing by helicopters and then they attacked on the ground. There are currently two dead and 19 injured, some are serious."

However, government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze told reporters the attack targeted "criminals" who had set fire to Gabon’s National Assembly.

On Wednesday night, the lower house of parliament was set on fire, allegedly by protesters opposed to Bongo.

Clashes between hundreds of protesters and the police continued on Wednesday night in the capital. A building belonging to Paul Biyoghe Mba, the deputy prime minister, was also set on fire by rioters, witnesses told Anadolu Agency.

Witnesses said there were clashes in the cities of Port Gentil and Oyem.

The Gabonese opposition on Thursday said more than 200 protesters, including six of its leaders, had been arrested since the clashes erupted on Wednesday evening after the announcement of the election results.

Gabon’s Electoral Commission previously announced that President Bongo had defeated Ping -- former head of the African Union Commission -- with 49.85 percent of the vote against 48.16 percent.

Opposition supporters rejected the result, alleging irregularities in voter turnout. Ping’s team has called for a recount.

Ping called the result an “electoral coup” and accused Bongo of “massive fraud” in the province of Haut-Ogooue, a Bongo stronghold which saw an almost 100 percent turnout compared to much-lower totals elsewhere in the country.

African Union ‘monitoring’

Chair of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, was “closely monitoring” the situation in Gabon, the organization said on Thursday.

In a statement, the AUC said it was concerned “over the outbreak of violence in some parts of the country that has resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and destruction of property”.

However, in a speech to the nation delivered Wednesday night, Ali Bongo, welcomed his victory:

"We are living an important moment. We live in a time where change is required. We live a time when we must be more united and stronger together," Bongo said, insisting on the "transparency of the poll" last Saturday.

However, the president declined to mention the ongoing protests and violence.

In a statement released shortly after the announcement of Bongo’s victory, the French Foreign Ministry said that "the conditions of the announcement of the results of presidential election in Gabon are a concern".

"The credibility of the election and Gabon’s reputation at the international level is at stake," it added.

Bongo, 57, came to power in 2009 after the death of his father Omar Bongo, who ruled the country for 42 years.