Fighting in Gabon as Bongo wins election

Violence has greeted the declaration of results from Gabon's presidential election.

After Ali Bongo Odimba, son of Gabon's long-time ruler Omar Bongo, was pronounced the winner, opposition supporters began protesting.

In the city of Port-Gentil, a crowd is reported to have broken into a prison and freed hundreds of inmates, before entering the city centre and setting fire to buildings, including the French consulate.

There were also clashes in the capital, Libreville, where security forces tried to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters who had staged an overnight sit-in, in a square near the election commission.

The results gave Ali Ben Bongo just under 42 percent of the votes, followed by two opposition candidates, Andre Mba Obame and Pierre Mamboundou, who each received just over 25 percent.

Mr Mamboundou, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, is also reported to have been injured in the violence.

A short time ago, the Interior Minister appealed for calm.

Linel Kwatsi, our reporter in Libreville, told Sophie Ikenye what the minister said.