Gabon - post-election

Opposition leaders banned from leaving country

Article published on the 2009-09-10 Latest update 2009-09-10 15:29 TU

Port-Gentil on 5 September
(Photo: AFP)

Gabon's government has barred opposition leaders from leaving the country, following post-election violence in its second city, Port Gentil.

The opposition has called for an international probe into the violence. Political activist and doctor Pierre André Kombila claims that dozens of people were killed and that 15 bodies were to be found in just one morgue in the city.

The government puts the death toll at three.

Port Gentil was the scene of riots last week, after ruling party candidate Ali Bongo was declared the winner of the 30 August election.

Paul Mba Abessole, one of the candidates in the election, said he was not allowed to board a Wednesday evening flight to Côte d'Ivoire.

Talking to RFI's French service, he repeated accusations that Bongo rigged the election.

"This gentleman did what he wanted with the Gabonese people's votes and will continue to reduce the Gabonese to servitude," he said.

The Interior Ministry has confirmed that opposition leaders are barred from traveling until investigators find out who is responsible for last week's violence.

"Since this was a political act, it is reasonable that political leaders of all sides should stay on national territory for the sake of the inquiry," Interior Minister Jean-François Ndongou told RFI.

The French Foreign Ministry on Thuresday said it was checking the claims and said that France supports the full exercise of civil liberties.