Clashes erupt in Gabon after Bongo declared winner

Gabon: Clashes has erupted between security forces and protesters in Libreville Gabon on Wednesday after president Ali Bongo was declared winner of last Thursday's presidential election which extends the half-a-century rule of the Bongo family in the Central African nation.

Demonstrators shouting "Ali must go!" tried to storm the headquarters of the election commission shortly after authorities announced Bongo's re-election by a narrow majority as security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to repel several hundred protesters back.

Bongo was declared winner with 49.80 of the vote against 48.23 percent for his rival Jean Ping, with just about 5,594 votes of a total of 627,805 registered voters making the difference.

President Bongo's father ruled the country for four decades, before Bongo was elected in his first term in 2009 in a poll that was marred by violence.

His rival and ex-diplomat Jean Ping who is half-Chinese had also declared himself winner of the election, a move sparking fears of violence in the country.