Gabon opposition rejects court election verdict
Libreville 25 Sep (ANA) - Gabonese opposition leader Jean Ping has said a constitution court ruling which upheld President Ali Bongo's election victory was "unjust". Mr Ping called for his supporters to "remain vigilant and mobilised". There have been concerns about violent protests following the court ruling. To ease tension Mr Bongo offered to include opposition members in his cabinet. He came to power in 2009 when his father died after ruling for 42 years. President Bongo says he is now seeking to form a new government. Speaking to supporters in the capital Libreville, Mr Ping sought to ensure supporters that the Gabonese people would be "respected" and that "2016 will not be 2009". Mr Ping had asked the court to re-examine results in the Haut-Ogooue province where Mr Bongo won 95% of the vote on a turnout of 99.9%. But the court threw out copies of tally sheets that Mr Ping had presented as evidence, saying they had not been verified. Mr Ping had warned that Gabon could face serious instability if the court rejected his appeal for a recount in that province.(ANA)
FA/ANA/25 September 2016-------