Opposition warned against violence ahead of court ruling

Government officials in Gabon warned opposition leader Jean Ping on Wednesday that he risked arrest if renewed unrest erupts when the Constitutional Court rules on his challenge to last month’s presidential election result. The government said six people died in riots that erupted this month when results from the Aug. 27 poll handed victory to […]

Government officials in Gabon warned opposition leader Jean Ping on Wednesday that he risked arrest if renewed unrest erupts when the Constitutional Court rules on his challenge to last month’s presidential election result.
The government said six people died in riots that erupted this month when results from the Aug. 27 poll handed victory to incumbent President Ali Bongo by less than 6,000 votes, extending his family’s half-century grip on power.
Ping said as many as 100 people were killed in the violence and filed a request for a recount, alleging fraud in one of Bongo’s strongholds.
The Constitutional Court has until Friday to decide on his complaint, but the authorities are already stepping up security in the capital Libreville, the epicentre of the violence.