One Person Killed In Gabon Anti-Government Demo

Protesters clash with police in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, on December 20, 2014.

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Protesters clash with police in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, on December 20, 2014.
Protesters clash with police in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, on December 20, 2014.

At least one person has been killed in clashes between Gabon’s security forces and anti-government protesters in the West African country.

A 30-year-old male student was killed in the scuffles that broke out during a protest rally in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, on Saturday.

He died from a throat injury likely caused by “a sharp object,” Coroner Liliane Flore Pemba said.

The protesters called on Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba to relinquish power. Police fired tear gas to disperse them.

“We came to march peacefully to say we are fed up with the country being looted, that’s all,” said Jonas, one of the protesters.

At least 20 people were detained in the demonstration.

Opposition groups alleged that three people had been killed and hundreds wounded in the violence, although there was no official confirmation of the claims.

The rally was called for by opposition figure Jean Ping, a Gabonese diplomat who was the chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2008 to 2012.

Ondimba has been in power since the death of his father Omar in 2009. Omar Ondimba had been in power since 1967.

Press TV

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