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Bongo calls out troops

05.12.05

LIBREVILLE - The Government of Gabon President Omar Bongo stationed troops on the capital's street corners and said its soldiers would shoot without warning after rioting by opponents of his re-election.

Unrest in Libreville began on Thursday as supporters of two leading opposition candidates claimed the presidential election the previous weekend was rigged to give Bongo a new seven-year term.

Africa's longest-serving leader demanded an end to the protests in an address on state television.

"Now that the election is successfully over things must resume their normal course ... In short, no disorder will be tolerated," Bongo said.

"I ask you, compatriots, not to create pointless tensions. You must stop all declarations that divide the Gabonese people and that lead to acts of violence and looting," he said.

Prime Minister Jean-Francois Ntoutoume Emane said the Government had given the security forces permission to shoot without warning after unrest in Libreville and other towns left at least one person dead.

Convoys of military vehicles appeared at major junctions around the city. The streets were quiet early on Saturday as many people stayed at home.

The security forces detained 23 people after the brief rioting in the capital, in which protesters smashed the windows of several shops and cars before they were dispersed by riot police wielding batons.

The violence followed a declaration by the constitutional court that Bongo, who has ruled the oil-producing Central African state since 1967, had won 79.2 per cent of the vote.

International observers did not report any electoral fraud but the two main defeated candidates, Pierre Mamboundou and Zacharie Myboto, have rejected the results.

- REUTERS