Gabon court upholds President Ali Bongo’s election win

Libreville (AFP) – Gabon’s constitutional court upheld President’s Ali Bongo’s re-election victory, rejecting the appeal of his defeated challenger Jean Ping at a televised public hearing overnight Friday-Saturday.

The court, while partially changing the results of the close August 27 vote, said Bongo maintained a lead over Ping. The announcement of Bongo’s victory after the bitterly-fought election had sparked days of deadly violence.