Gabon's Bongo wins fresh term as president

LIBREVILLE - Africa's longest serving president, Gabon's Omar Bongo, won a fresh seven-year term in Sunday's elections in the central African country, according to official results announced today.

Interior Minister Clotaire Ivala announced on state television that Bongo, who has ruled the oil producing country since 1967, had won 79.2 per cent of the vote.

He comfortably beat four opposition challengers, the nearest of whom, Pierre Mamboundou, won just 13.6 per cent of the ballot.

"Therefore Omar Bongo has been elected," Ivala said.

Bongo's opponents, including former close ally Zacharie Myboto, have tried to tap into popular discontent over poverty and unemployment in the former French colony despite its oil wealth. Oil accounts for 80 per cent of Gabon's exports.

But they struggled to match Bongo's big spending re-election campaign, during which voters were showered with gifts and posters of him peppered the city.

Running in his third presidential campaign since he restored multi-party politics in 1990, Bongo warned Gabonese voters that only he could guarantee peace and stability.

"This is the best result," said N'nang Cyprieu, 33, a baker. "People voted in peace ... Yes, there are problems in Gabon but that will change."

- REUTERS