Gabon security forces clashed with protesters early Saturday as authorities of the oil rich African nation struggled to quell opposition to the election of Ali Bongo as president. At least two people have been shot dead in three days of unrest since the results were announced.
One opposition party has called for "resistance" to the declaration of the son of the country's long-time strong-arm leader as new president. Security forces battled looters through the night in the second city of Port Gentil where a curfew has been ordered after a police station and the offices of French companies have been attacked.
Residents said they heard shots throughout the night. Public buildings and a sports and social club run by French oil company Total were destroyed in new attacks. On Friday stores and petrol stations in the West African country's oil capital were attacked and set ablaze.
Demonstrators ransacked a police station and then freed detainees from the cells before torching it. France evacuated most of its citizens out of Port Gentil after the French consulate there was razed on Thursday. It has told French nationals in the rest of the country to stay in their homes. Air services to Port Gentil, Gabon's economic hub, have been suspended since Friday evening, residents said.
French oil giant Total said Saturday it had pulled out Port Gentil staff and their families and sent them to the capital to ensure their security. Only a skeletal staff force will remain in the port city. French troops are protecting the consulate and France, the former colonial power, has a military base near the capital, Libreville. But interim defence minister Jean-Francois Ndongou has ruled out asking French troops to help.
Extra security has been ordered for a football World Cup qualifying match between Gabon and Cameroon in Libreville on Saturday. Gabon's Interior and Security Minister Jean-Francois Ndongou said a night-time curfew in Port Gentil would remain in place until further notice.
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