Gabon locks down city amid riots

Police used teargas and batons to clear protesters in Libreville A night-time curfew has been declared in Gabon's Port Gentil after violence by opposition activists and attacks on French interests in the city. Earlier, opposition groups clashed with security forces in the capital, Libreville, after presidential election results declared Ali Bongo the winner. France, Gabon's former ruler, has told its 10,000 citizens to stay inside. Critics say the poll, held on the death of Ali's father, Omar, who ruled the oil-rich state for 41 years, was fixed. French protection In other violence in Port Gentil, Gabon's second city, opposition supporters stormed a jail, freeing its inmates. ALI BEN BONGO Born in 1959 in Brazzaville, his mother is Gabonese singer and musician Patience Dabany Studied at Sorbonne in Paris before entering politics in 1981 Became foreign affairs minister in 1989 - forced to quit in 1991 because he was too young Organised pop-star Michael Jackson's visit to Gabon in 1992 Served as defence minister 1999-2009 Source: Ali Ben Bongo's website Bongo dynasty continues They later rampaged through the streets and set fire to the French consulate - as many accuse the former colonial power of propping up the late Omar Bongo's government. Crowds also attacked installations belonging to the French oil company, Total. France has about 1,000 troops stationed in Gabon and its International Development Minister Alain Joyandet said "measures were in place" to protect French citizens. Earlier, police used teargas and batons to disperse protests in Libreville. 'Electoral coup' Former interior minister Andre Mba Obame, who came second in Gabon's presidential election, told AFP he "does not recognise the results" and that he is in fact the winner. "This is an electoral coup d'etat. I do not recognise the election results. It is me who won," Mr Mba Obame said by telephone from a secret location. Opposition leaders have denounced the poll results as a fraud and accuse Mr Bongo and his supporters of carrying out a coup d'etat. Another of the beaten candidates, Pierre Mamboundou, led protests overnight in Libreville. A senior member of his party, the Gabonese People's Union, says Mr Mamboundou was seriously injured in the head and shoulder, but was now safe. 'Unifier' Amid the unrest, Ali Ben Bongo pledged to be a uniting force for the oil-rich nation. "As far as I am concerned, I am and I will always be the president of all the people of Gabon," he said after his victory was announced. "I am and I will always be at the service of all, without exclusion." Mr Bongo was widely tipped to succeed his father, who died in June. One of the world's richest men, the late president owned a string of properties in France and was an unflinching ally of Paris. A month before his death, French courts began to investigate Mr Bongo for corruption - allegations he denied. Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty.

Gabon's interim leader sworn in

Rose Francine Rogombe fills a power vacuum left by Omar Bongo's death The speaker of the senate in Gabon has been sworn in as the country's interim head of state, following the recent death of President Omar Bongo. Under the constitution, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, must organise elections within 45 days. On Thursday, Mr Bongo's body will be repatriated from Spain where he had been undergoing medical treatment. Access to the internet in the oil-rich nation remains cut off, but the state's borders have been reopened. Minute's silence Ms Rogombe was sworn in at the International Conference Centre in the capital, Libreville, on Wednesday morning, a day after her appointment was confirmed by the constitutional court. OMAR BONGO Led Gabon for 42 years Kept close economic and political ties with France Oil money means Gabon officially one of richest countries in Africa His son is defence minister His daughter was his chief of staff He denied corruption charges in French courts Introduced multi-party elections in 1993 - opposition complained they were not fair Having a laugh with Omar Bongo Gabon teacher not mourning Bongo "I swear to devote all my strength to the good of the Gabonese people, with the aim of promoting its well-being and protecting it from all harm, to respect and defend the constitution and a state of law, and conscientiously to carry out my duties and to be fair to all," Ms Rogombe said. Before she took the oath, a minute's silence was held in the memory of Mr Bongo, AFP news agency reports. The death of the 73-year-old president, who was Africa's longest-serving leader, was announced on Monday. The government said Mr Bongo, who had led Gabon since 1967, had died of a heart attack, hours after saying he was alive and well. It emerged in May the president was being treated in a Barcelona clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer. On Thursday the late president's body will arrive back in the country where it will lie in state at the presidential palace in the capital. He will be buried at Franceville in the Bateke region of his birth in south-east Gabon on Thursday of next week. On Tuesday, Mr Bongo's son - Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo - appealed for calm following his father's death. Observers say the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been deciding who should succeed him, with his 50-year-old son a leading contender. The BBC's Linel Kwatsi, in Libreville, says the security forces are keeping a low profile on the capital's streets, which are quieter than usual. Gabon Telecom says the internet, cut since Sunday, has been hit by an optical fibre technical fault. But many believe the government has ordered the company to take Gabon off-line so as to control access to information in the aftermath of the president's death. The city's mayor has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close, while security forces are on patrol.