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Gabon opposition calls for strike | Gabon opposition calls for strike |
(10 minutes later) | |
Gabon's opposition parties have called for a three-day national strike to protest at last month's election. | Gabon's opposition parties have called for a three-day national strike to protest at last month's election. |
The poll was won by Ali Ben Bongo, the son of late leader Omar Bongo, but activists say it was a fix and the result sparked days of deadly riots. | |
The government has urged people to ignore the strike and called the opposition "irresponsible". | The government has urged people to ignore the strike and called the opposition "irresponsible". |
The BBC's Linel Kwatsi in the capital Libreville says it is not yet clear how much backing the strike will have. | |
He said the city had been quiet since the election on 30 August, and Monday was much the same story, with fewer people around than usual. | |
Strike condemned | Strike condemned |
Mike Jocktane, spokesman for beaten presidential candidate Andre Mba Obame, said the idea was to denounce the election result - but also to express solidarity with the victims of violence in the second city of Port Gentil. | |
"We're asking people to stay at home, not to come out of their houses, because we want to avoid violence," he told the BBC's Network Africa. | "We're asking people to stay at home, not to come out of their houses, because we want to avoid violence," he told the BBC's Network Africa. |
But Rose Francine Rogombe, who is serving as interim president until the inauguration of Mr Bongo, condemned the opposition move. | But Rose Francine Rogombe, who is serving as interim president until the inauguration of Mr Bongo, condemned the opposition move. |
"They cannot ask the Gabonese people to close the doors to their offices and stay home for three days without considering the economic consequences," she said. | "They cannot ask the Gabonese people to close the doors to their offices and stay home for three days without considering the economic consequences," she said. |
"It shows they are irresponsible." | "It shows they are irresponsible." |
Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty. | Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty. |
Last month's election was called after the death of Omar Bongo, one of the world's richest men, who had ruled the nation for four decades. | Last month's election was called after the death of Omar Bongo, one of the world's richest men, who had ruled the nation for four decades. |