Gabon opposition reject Bongo election 'victory'

LIBREVILLE, Gabon

Provisional results released by Gabon’s electoral body on Wednesday suggest incumbent ruler, Ali Bongo Ondimba, won Saturday’s presidential election.

Opposition candidate Jean Ping’s team rejected the result, alleging irregularities in voter turnout.

In Wednesday’s statement, Gabon’s Electoral Commission said according to provisional results, President Bongo beat Ping -- a former head of the African Union Commission -- taking 49.85 percent of the vote against 48.16 percent.

Ping’s team has called for a recount in the Haut Ogooue region where turnout was recorded at 99 percent. The turnout in other districts was between 48 to52 percent.

It was also claimed that President Bongo took 96 percent of the vote in Haut Ogooue.

Ali Bongo was elected Gabon’s president in 2009. His father, Omar Bongo, ran the country from 1967.