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| Gabon leader Omar Bongo 'is dead' | Gabon leader Omar Bongo 'is dead' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Africa's longest-serving leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon, has died at the age of 73, French media say. | Africa's longest-serving leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon, has died at the age of 73, French media say. |
| Mr Bongo had been treated in a clinic in the Spanish city of Barcelona. He was reported to have cancer, and had suspended his activities in May. | Mr Bongo had been treated in a clinic in the Spanish city of Barcelona. He was reported to have cancer, and had suspended his activities in May. |
| Mr Bongo had led his oil-producing West African state since 1967. | Mr Bongo had led his oil-producing West African state since 1967. |
| In May, a French judge announced an investigation into whether Mr Bongo had used state funds to buy homes and cars in France - a claim denied by Mr Bongo. | |
| The death of the Gabonese veteran leader was reported by AFP news agency, who quoted a French government source, and also by the website of French magazine Le Point, quoting a source close to Mr Bongo's entourage. | |
| There has not yet been any official confirmation. | |
| Mr Bongo became vice-president in 1967, taking over as head of state later that year after the death of Gabon's first post-independence President Leon Mba. | Mr Bongo became vice-president in 1967, taking over as head of state later that year after the death of Gabon's first post-independence President Leon Mba. |
| He had built a powerful dynasty in the former French colony during his years in office. | He had built a powerful dynasty in the former French colony during his years in office. |
| Opposition leaders have claimed his son, Ali Ben Bongo, currently defence minister, is being manoeuvred to take over. | Opposition leaders have claimed his son, Ali Ben Bongo, currently defence minister, is being manoeuvred to take over. |