Gabon president's accounts frozen

Paris, 27 Feb-(ANA)-The authorities in France have frozen Gabon President Omar Bongo's bank accounts.

The move comes after a Bordeaux court ordered President Bongo to return a payment made to him to release a jailed French businessman, Rene Cardona.

Mr Bongo, Africa's longest-serving leader, is thought to have more than $4m (£2.8m) in French bank accounts.

Mr Cardona was freed after his son paid more than $580,000 (£400,000) into 72-year-old Mr Bongo's account, a court heard.

In September, a court ruled that the payment had been illegal.

Jean-Philippe Le Bail, a lawyer for the jailed businessman's son, told AFP news agency : "The accounts held by Omar Bongo in two French banks have been seized."

Rene Cardona was imprisoned in 1996 after a business dispute with Mr Bongo, to whom he had sold a shipping and fishing firm.

Mr Bongo's lawyer, Francois Meyer, said that the Gabonese president refuses to repay the money. Mr Meyer alleged that Mr Cardona still owes the Gabonese president money from the sale of the firm.

Mr Meyer added that the $580,000 was paid to Mr Bongo in connection with the sale of the firm and not for the release of Mr Cardona.

But this was denied by Mr Cardona. (ANA)

FA/ANA/27 February 2009---