A report [text] by Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] Thursday condemned Gabon [BBC profile] security forces for using excessive force against protesters after the country’s disputed election. Alioune Tine, AI’s West and Central Africa director, stated that these actions must stop after reports that several anti-government demonstrators had been shot and injured on Wednesday. Tine stated that “such a brutal response violates protesters’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” Tine asked that security forces do everything they can to allow for peaceful protests and impartially investigate any excessive use of force by the security forces. By doing so, Tine stated that such actions will assist in bringing stability and security after the election period. These actions result after incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba [BBC profile] received 49.8 percent of the vote against 48.23 percent for rival Jean Ping [NEWSWEEK profile]. Ping’ss supporters are claiming that the results are fraudulent and has challenged the election. As a result, demonstrations have broken out in which at least two people were killed and several others were wounded by security forces [BBC report]. The security forces claim that their actions were justified in response to “armed criminals who allegedly set fire to the country’s parliament” earlier that day.

Ping claims the election was fraudulent and cites results [BBC report] in President Bongo’s home province. In Haut-Ogooue, the voter turnout was 99.93 percent, and 95 percent of those votes were for the president. Other provinces had a turnout between 45 percent and 71 percent. As a result of the election, protests began in Gabon where protesters attacked the national assembly building. As a response police use tear gas and arrested hundreds that emerged from the building. Ping claims that his headquarters were bombed by security forces killing at least two people.