Presidential guard bombed opposition’s party HQ

Gabon’s opposition leader Jean Ping has said that a presidential guard helicopter bombed his headquarters and killed two people. A government spokesman said the operation was to root out “criminals” who had set fire to parliament. Protesters took to the streets on Wednesday claiming fraud after it was announced that President Ali Bongo had been […]

Gabon’s opposition leader Jean Ping has said that a presidential guard helicopter bombed his headquarters and killed two people.
A government spokesman said the operation was to root out “criminals” who had set fire to parliament.
Protesters took to the streets on Wednesday claiming fraud after it was announced that President Ali Bongo had been narrowly re-elected.
Some 1,000 people have been arrested, officials say.
In a national address, Mr Bongo said “democracy does not sit well with an attack on parliament”.
Protests and gunfire have continued in the capital Libreville on Thursday.
The official election result, announced on Wednesday afternoon, gave Mr Bongo a second seven-year term with 49.8% of the vote to Mr Ping’s 48.2% – a margin of 5,594 votes.
But Mr Ping said the election was fraudulent and “everybody knows” he won.