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Bongo's son calls for Gabon calm Bongo's son calls for Gabon calm
(about 3 hours later)
The son of the late Gabonese President Omar Bongo has appealed for calm following his father's death.The son of the late Gabonese President Omar Bongo has appealed for calm following his father's death.
Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo, who made the comments in a televised address, is seen as a leading candidate to succeed his father. Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo, a main candidate to succeed his father, made the appeal on national TV. Mr Bongo was Africa's longest-serving leader.
Earlier, the defence ministry said it was closing Gabon's borders and that it was deploying security forces across the country. Earlier, the defence ministry said it was sealing Gabon's borders and deploying security forces.
Omar Bongo was Africa's longest serving leader when he died at 73. Access to the internet in Gabon has been cut since Sunday, and state TV has been playing religious music.
His death was confirmed by Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement. In a written statement on Monday, Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong announced the 73-year-old veteran leader had died of a heart attack, hours after saying Mr Bongo was alive and well.
There had been conflicting reports earlier on Monday about whether Mr Bongo, who had led Gabon since 1967, had died in a Spanish clinic. Nightclubs shut
It emerged in May that the president, who had led Gabon since 1967, was being treated in a Spanish clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer.
In these difficult circumstances, love of one's homeland should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo Obituary: Omar Bongo The murky world of Omar Bongo Should Gabon mourn Bongo?
Under the constitution, the leader of the Senate, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, should take over as interim leader and organise elections within 45 days.Under the constitution, the leader of the Senate, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, should take over as interim leader and organise elections within 45 days.
Mourning period But opposition leaders have claimed that Ali-Ben Bongo has already been lined up to take over, and question whether any election would be free and fair.
In these difficult circumstances, love of one's homeland should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon Ali-Ben Bongo Defence minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/8088399.stm">Obituary: Omar Bongo class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/8056309.stm">The murky world of Omar Bongo class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6562&edition=1">Should Gabon mourn Bongo? The BBC's Linel Kwatsi, in the capital Libreville, says there is genuine mourning over Mr Bongo's death as, for many Gabonese, he was the only leader they ever knew.
But opposition leaders have claimed that Ali-Ben Bongo has been lined up to take over, and question whether any election would be free and fair. Many civilians have been buying staple commodities, especially food, in case a curfew is declared, adds our correspondent.
In his address, the late leader's son said he was speaking as a member of the family, not a minister. The city's mayor has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close as security forces patrolled.
'Sensitive buildings secured'
Observers say the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been deciding who should succeed him, with his 50-year-old son a leading contender.
In his address, Ali-Ben Bongo said he was speaking as a member of the family, not a minister.
"I call for calm and quiet contemplation in order to preserve the unity and the peace which was so dear to our late father," he said."I call for calm and quiet contemplation in order to preserve the unity and the peace which was so dear to our late father," he said.
Omar Bongo was one of the last of the so-called African big men
"In these difficult circumstances, love of one's homeland should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon.""In these difficult circumstances, love of one's homeland should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon."
The defence ministry said in a televised statement that "all components of the defence forces were put in place across the territory", and that sensitive buildings were being secured.The defence ministry said in a televised statement that "all components of the defence forces were put in place across the territory", and that sensitive buildings were being secured.
Earlier, Mr Ndong said Mr Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 1230 GMT. The government has said Gabon will observe 30 days of mourning, and called on the Gabonese people to "stand together in contemplation and dignity".
He said Gabon would observe 30 days of mourning, and called on the Gabonese people to "stand together in contemplation and dignity". French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country was "standing by the people of Gabon and its institutions, at this difficult time".
The internet has been cut off since Sunday, while state television is playing religious music. Embezzlement probe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his sadness over the death of Mr Bongo. He said France was "standing by the people of Gabon and its institutions, at this difficult time". Gabon under Mr Bongo has maintained close economic and political ties to France, the former colonial power. France has around 1,000 troops stationed in Libreville.
Gabon under Mr Bongo has maintained close economic and political ties to France, the former colonial power. Oil earnings mean that Gabon is officially one of Africa's richest states but analysts say the political elite has kept most of the money for themselves. Most of the country's 1.4 million people live in poverty.
Embezzlement investigation
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 have 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.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. 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.
Mr Bongo denied any wrongdoing.