Gabon opposition leader dares prosecutor to arrest him

Gabon's main opposition leader Andre Mba Obame on Wednesday dared the prosecutor of Libreville to arrest him after his National Union (UN) party staged a protest that degenerated into violence.

"I hear the threats of a prosecutor answering orders, but let them come. Go on. I dare them," Mba Obame said.

"As I already said, I'm used to it. I take (the threat) seriously but it's not what will stop me... We are determined. Let each one do what he has to do. This government, all it knows what to do is repression," he said.

Prosecutor Sidonie-Flore Ouwe said Monday that "I assure you that Mr Mba Obame will be arrested," without saying whether it would be on a charge linked to the protest or to his claim to be the legitimate president of Gabon.

Tensions in Libreville have been simmering since police stopped an unauthorised protest a week ago in support of Obame, who claims he won a 2009 election against current President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Youths threw stones and bottles at police when they broke up the protest, drawing tear gas in return.

The unrest was the worst since rioting after the 2009 election, which saw Bongo succeed his father Omar following his death after 42 years in power.

The UN says one person was killed and dozens injured.

Mba Obame, a former member of the ruling party who defected to the opposition, left Gabon in 2011 after declaring himself elected head of state, refusing to recognise the electoral victory of Ali Bongo in 2009.

His UN party was subsequently dissolved and therefore does not have the right to organise demonstrations.

Around 150 people, mostly UN supporters, marched Wednesday in the capital Libreville, along with the coffin containing a young woman who died on August 15, the day of the protest, an AFP correspondent reported.

The opposition said the young woman suffered from asthma and reacted badly to the tear gas fired by police. The authorities said she died a natural death.

Mba Obame, accompanied by party leaders, visited the home of the dead woman in a working class district of Libreville, where the coffin arrived after the funeral march.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gabon-opposition-leader-dares-prosecutor-arrest-him-220139725.html

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