Gabon’s embattled President Ali Bongo on Thursday called the protests against his reelection, which sparked deadly riots in the capital, Libreville, an attack on democracy. He has rejected the opposition’s calls to step down.
Riots broke out in Libreville and other cities shortly after Gabon’s election commission on Wednesday announced Bongo’s re-election with 49.8 percent of the vote while his main challenger, Jean Ping, got 48.2 percent.
Three people were killed and more than 1,100 arrested Thursday, after a second day of rioting.
In a televised address to the nation Thursday, Bongo rejected opposition calls for him to step down, noting that “democracy is not compatible with attempts to storm parliament”.
France and the US have called for calm and the release of polling station results.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Gabonese security services had used disproportionate force and called for restraint.
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