The veteran President of Gabon, Omar Bongo, has said that he will stay in power until his current seven-year term expires in 2005.

He said according to Gabon's constitution, his mandate was renewable.

Mr Bongo rejected suggestions that he was ill, and urged politicians to tackle the country's political problems instead of speculating about his successor.

He said that he had discussed the issue with his ruling Gabonese Democratic Party PDG and the matter was closed.

The sixty-four-year old president -- who took office in 1967 -- is Africa's second longest serving leader after Togo's Gnassingbe Eyadema. He won his latest term of office in multi-party elections in 1998.

The opposition said the vote was rigged.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service