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| Crowds watch Bongo's body return | Crowds watch Bongo's body return |
| (28 minutes later) | |
| Up to 10,000 Gabonese have turned out to see the body of the late President Omar Bongo arrive back home from Spain, where he died on Monday. | Up to 10,000 Gabonese have turned out to see the body of the late President Omar Bongo arrive back home from Spain, where he died on Monday. |
| Mourners lined the route from the airport in the capital Libreville as the car carrying the leader's coffin drove slowly through the city. | Mourners lined the route from the airport in the capital Libreville as the car carrying the leader's coffin drove slowly through the city. |
| His body is to lie at the presidential palace ahead of the burial next week. | His body is to lie at the presidential palace ahead of the burial next week. |
| The senate's speaker was sworn in on Wednesday as interim head of state. Elections must be held within 45 days. | The senate's speaker was sworn in on Wednesday as interim head of state. Elections must be held within 45 days. |
| Earlier, a small funeral ceremony was held at Barcelona airport before the Spanish Air Force plane took off for West Africa, reports the AP news agency. | Earlier, a small funeral ceremony was held at Barcelona airport before the Spanish Air Force plane took off for West Africa, reports the AP news agency. |
| Daughter weeps | Daughter weeps |
| Mr Bongo, who was in power for nearly 42 years, is to be buried at Franceville in the Bateke region of his birth in south-east Gabon on Thursday of next week. | Mr Bongo, who was in power for nearly 42 years, is to be buried at Franceville in the Bateke region of his birth in south-east Gabon on Thursday of next week. |
| Interim leader Rose Francine Rogombe must organise elections in 45 days | Interim leader Rose Francine Rogombe must organise elections in 45 days |
| At least 10 heads of state, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, are expected to attend the funeral. | At least 10 heads of state, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, are expected to attend the funeral. |
| Under Mr Bongo, Gabon retained close economic and political ties to France, its former colonial power. | Under Mr Bongo, Gabon retained close economic and political ties to France, its former colonial power. |
| Politicians, diplomats and military officials were on the tarmac to receive the coffin, draped in the national flag, with full honours on Thursday. | Politicians, diplomats and military officials were on the tarmac to receive the coffin, draped in the national flag, with full honours on Thursday. |
| Mr Bongo's daughter and cabinet chief, Pascaline, reportedly fell sobbing into the arms of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who was also Mr Bongo's father-in-law. | Mr Bongo's daughter and cabinet chief, Pascaline, reportedly fell sobbing into the arms of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who was also Mr Bongo's father-in-law. |
| 'Iron lady' | |
| Gabonese journalist Linel Kwatsi says thousands of people, many in black clothing or wearing T-shirts with Mr Bongo's image, turned out along the waterfront and waved at the vehicle bearing the late leader's body as it cruised past. | Gabonese journalist Linel Kwatsi says thousands of people, many in black clothing or wearing T-shirts with Mr Bongo's image, turned out along the waterfront and waved at the vehicle bearing the late leader's body as it cruised past. |
| He says the anxiety that overshadowed the country as news of the president's death emerged is vanishing. | He says the anxiety that overshadowed the country as news of the president's death emerged is vanishing. |
| There is relief that the mechanisms of democracy appear to be working and that fears of a coup have proved unfounded, he adds. | There is relief that the mechanisms of democracy appear to be working and that fears of a coup have proved unfounded, he adds. |
| OMAR BONGO Led Gabon for nearly 42 yearsOil money means Gabon officially one of richest countries in AfricaHe denied corruption charges in French courtsAllowed multi-party polls in 1993; opposition said they weren't fair Having a laugh with Omar Bongo Gabon teacher not mourning Bongo | |
| The hope now is that interim leader, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, will organise fair presidential polls. | The hope now is that interim leader, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, will organise fair presidential polls. |
| The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been deciding who should succeed the late president, with his 50-year-old son, Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo, tipped as a leading contender. | The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been deciding who should succeed the late president, with his 50-year-old son, Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo, tipped as a leading contender. |
| Ms Rogombe, 66, a lawyer and ruling party member dubbed "the iron lady", is constitutionally ineligible from standing in the presidential poll. | Ms Rogombe, 66, a lawyer and ruling party member dubbed "the iron lady", is constitutionally ineligible from standing in the presidential poll. |
| Likely opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou - leader of the Union of the Gabonese People - has called on citizens to back Ms Rogombe while she organises polls to help "guarantee transparency during the vote". | Likely opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou - leader of the Union of the Gabonese People - has called on citizens to back Ms Rogombe while she organises polls to help "guarantee transparency during the vote". |
| It emerged last month that Mr Bongo was being treated in a Barcelona clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer. | It emerged last month that Mr Bongo was being treated in a Barcelona clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer. |
| The government said on Monday the 73-year-old had died of a heart attack, hours after saying he was alive and well. | The government said on Monday the 73-year-old had died of a heart attack, hours after saying he was alive and well. |
| Libreville's mayor has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close, while security forces have been on patrol. | Libreville's mayor has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close, while security forces have been on patrol. |