Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping calls for presidential vote recount
Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday declared himself the rightful president and called for a vote recount, days after incumbent Ali Bongo was declared the winner of a weekend election that has sparked deadly violence.
"I am the president," Ping told a press conference at his home in Libreville late Friday, calling for a recount from every polling station.
In the 48 hours since the results of Saturday's election were announced huge crowds of angry supporters, some of whom torched the parliament, have taken to the streets.
Bongo's government launched a fierce crackdown, with security forces arresting around a thousand people.
Two people died early Friday following overnight clashes, bringing to five the number killed in the violence that erupted after Bongo was declared victor of the disputed election on Saturday.
Bongo was declared victorious by a razor-thin margin of just under 6,000 votes, but his main challenger Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official, insisted the vote was rigged and claimed victory for himself.
"The whole world knows who is president of the republic, it's me Jean Ping," he said.
The Gabonese authorities categorically refused any recount, invoking the country's electoral law which includes no such procedure.
The post-vote violence in this small but oil-rich central African nation has sparked international concern, with top diplomats calling for restraint as rights groups raised the alarm over the use of "excessive force".
The latest fatalities included Bekam Ella Edzang, 27, who died after being shot in the stomach "by the Republican Guard, who were firing tear gas and live bullets," a childhood friend called Geraud told AFP.
The second victim was identified as 28-year-old Axel Messa, whose mother told AFP he had been shot outside his home.
"They found my son outside his front door in the street. A black car pulled up. They lowered the window -- there were two of them -- and they fired twice," she said.
