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Gabon opposition chief calls for general strike after disputed election
African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping arrives for the 18th African Union (AU) Summit in the Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, January 29, 2012. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Noor Khamis
05/09/2016
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping called on Monday for a general strike to protest against what he said was a fraudulent re-election victory by President Ali Bongo.
Ping, who says he is now the leader of the Central African oil producer, said in a statement on his website that his fight was not over, even as calm returned to the capital following deadly riots last week.
"I ask you from today onward not to use violence but to resist by blocking the country's economy," he said, addressing all Gabonese.
"I propose to cease all activity and begin a general strike," he added.
At least six people were killed and more than 1,000 arrested in violence after Wednesday's announcement of a slim vote victory for Bongo, whose family has run Gabon for half a century.
In the capital Libreville traffic began to pick up along the main boulevards on Monday and it was not immediately clear whether Ping's call to strike was being heeded.
Bongo has dismissed all allegations of vote fixing.
(Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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