Gabon Bongo dead

Africa's longest-serving leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon is dead.

Mr Bongo came to power in 1967 with the backing of France.

He ruled over a state that made billions of dollars from oil exports while most of its one and a half million people remained poor.

Last night, French media organisations reported that the president had died in Spain where he was being treated in hospital for intestinal Cancer but the Gabonese authorities denied this until this afternoon.

Journalist Linel Kwatsi spoke to me from Libreville.