Two killed as riots engulf Gabon's capital

Gabon: Two people has been killed and several others wounded in Libreville as violent protest against the re-election of president Ali Bongo enters its second day said Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping. Ping who had declared himself winner of the election said he won the poll and rejected the results announced on Wednesday that gave Bongo tiny victory, extending the Bongo family's half a century rule of the country for another seven years.

According to witnesses and a police source, riots were severe in at least nine Libreville communities on Thursday morning, just a day after angry protesters set the parliament building on fire.

One witness reportedly said he heard gunfire and blasts in the Nkembo neighbourhood, close to the city centre, while another said he saw protesters loot shops, turn rubbish bins over to block streets and smash cars in the Avea neighbourhood.

"This is just a consequence of the current situation. This is because of the victory of Bongo against Jean Ping," said Alex Mbadinga, 32 one of the witnesses.

Ping, said the two people were killed by the presidential guard soldiers and police after they attacked his party's headquarters during the night and called for international assistance to protect the population against what he described as "a rogue state".

Speaking to Reuters, Ping said;

"Everybody knows that I won the election," adding that the electoral commission's figures were fraudulent.

"The (Bongo) family are repeating the same scenario for almost half a century. The opposition can win the elections but they have never had access to power."

France, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations has called for calm and urged authorities to release the election results of individual polling stations for wider transparency.

According to residents of Libreville, internet was cut off on Thursday as social networks, including Twitter and Facebook, stopped working overnight.

Ali Bongo was declared winner of the presidential election with 49.80 per cent of votes against Ping's 48.23 per cent.