Army officers: Gabon pres. under house arrest

Gabonese President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors, military officers said on Wednesday.

Several officials were also under arrest for “high treason”, the officers were quoted by local media as saying in a press statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Gabonese army officers announced that they had taken power in the country and annulled the results of Saturday’s presidential election in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.

The electoral commission said Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.

His overthrow would end his family’s 53-year hold on power in Gabon.

Source: Kuwait News Agency