This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8090056.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gabon's leader Bongo dead at 73 Gabon's leader is confirmed dead
(30 minutes later)
President of Gabon Omar Bongo - Africa's longest serving leader - has died aged 73.President of Gabon Omar Bongo - Africa's longest serving leader - has died aged 73.
His death was confirmed by the country's Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement.His death was confirmed by the country's Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement.
There had been conflicting reports earlier on Monday about whether Mr Bongo, who had cancer, had died in a Spanish clinic. There had been conflicting reports earlier on Monday about whether Mr Bongo, who had led Gabon since 1967, had died in a Spanish clinic.
In his statement, Mr Ndong said Mr Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 1230GMT.In his statement, Mr Ndong said Mr Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 1230GMT.
In the capital Libreville, the BBC's Linel Kwatsi said people had already been stockpiling food following rumours of the president's death earlier in the day. They feared shops would shut if it was confirmed. He said Gabon would observe 30 days of mourning, and called on the Gabonese people to "stand together in contemplation and dignity".
Mr Bongo led Gabon since 1967, but stopped work in May. He faced a French inquiry into corruption allegations. In the capital Libreville, the BBC's Linel Kwatsi said people had reacted to the earlier rumours of Mr Bongo's death by stockpiling food. They feared shops would shut if it was confirmed.
Corruption allegations
Mr Bongo became vice-president, and then president, of Gabon in 1967. He stopped work in May, and entered a clinic in Barcelona. Government officials insisted it was for a check-up, but other reports said he had cancer.
Mr Bongo faced a French inquiry into corruption allegations.
Oil earnings mean that Gabon is officially one of Africa's richest states but analysts say that the political elite has kept most of the money for themselves. Most of the country's 1.4 million people live in poverty.
Mr Bongo was one of three African leaders being investigated for alleged embezzlement by a French judge. The others are Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
It is alleged that the properties owned by Mr Bongo's family in France could not have been purchased with official salaries alone.
Mr Bongo denied any wrongdoing.
Analyst say he built a powerful dynasty during his years in office.
Opposition leaders have claimed his son, Ali-Ben Bongo, currently defence minister, was being manoeuvred to take over.