Two Killed In Gabon After Clashes With Police Overnight

LIBREVILLE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -2nd Sep,2016) - Two men died after overnight clashes in Gabon's capital Libreville between security forces and demonstrators protesting President Ali Bongo's announced victory in a disputed election, witnesses and an AFP journalists said Friday.

Bekam Ella Edzang, a 27-year-old law student, died of his wounds in hospital on Friday morning after he was shot in the abdomen, an AFP journalist said. "He was injured at around 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) by the Republican Guard, who were firing tear gas and live bullets," a childhood friend of the victim who identified himself only as Geraud told AFP at the hospital.

In the Libreville district of Nzeng Ayong, another AFP correspondent saw dozens of protesters carrying the body of a 30-year-old wrapped in the flag of the central African nation.

His mother told AFP he was shot in front of his home on Thursday night.

The latest deaths take the toll up to five killed since riots and protests broke out on Wednesday after Bongo was declared the winner of the weekend presidential vote by a razor-thin margin. His main rival Jean Ping and his supporters say the vote result was rigged.

At the request of former colonial power France, the UN Security Council held a special session on Gabon on Thursday and expressed "deep concern" about the post-election situation.