In Gabon, the opposition coalition is
scheduled to hold a news conference Monday formally rejecting last month's
election result.
Describing it as sham, opposition parties have formed a
coalition to challenge the electoral commission after it declared Ali Ben Bongo
winner of the August 30th presidential vote.
Opposition
groups have rejected the results and continue violent clashes with security
forces.
The clashes have reportedly left at least two dead and destroyed
property despite Bongo's appeal for calm.
Desire
Ename publisher of Gabon's independent Echos Dunord newspaper said the opposition is
prepared to begin its news conference.
In
Libreville, we are waiting for the declaration of the coalition of the
candidate from the opposition," Ename said.
He
said there are indications that the opposition would be uncompromising in
Monday's press conference.
"They
will first of all reject the validity of that election because on Saturday,
they had already said something's in that way. And they said that all the
results that have been published were fake results, and I think that this
morning they will just confirm that position," he said.
Ename
said security is tight at the residence of an opposition presidential
candidate.
"Those
(military) people went there and they asked (defeated candidate) Mr. Mba Obame
supporters to move away from that place because they were on the street…they
(military) want no gathering of more than five people this is what they said to
those (supporters)," Ename said.
He
said the opposition is determined not to accept the results of last Sunday's
vote.
"We
just heard from the opposition, Mr. Andre Mba Obame and Mr. Mamboundou. They
asked their supporters to resist any threats…from the government," he said.
Ename
said there is need for a poll after opposition supporters rejected
President-Elect Bongo's calls for calm.
"I
think that we should measure this attitude to the fact that Mr. Ali Bongo has
been legally confirmed as the president of Gabon. It remains that legitimacy
belongs to the people …I think this is the interpretation that can be found in
that attitude of the people, who don't at all respect what Mr. Ali Bongo
asked," Ename said.
Meanwhile,
the government threatened Sunday to declare a "state of siege" in Port Gentil
if post-election violence continues.
Interior minister
Jean-Francois Ndongou warned that he would invoke special powers if opposition
supporters continue with the violent protests.
Post-election violence engulfed Port Gentil after results,
announced by the electoral commission declaring Ali Ben Bon winner of the
presidential vote, were described as fake by members of the opposition.