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UN chief calls for peace, stability in Gabon

Xinhua, September 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged all concerned political leaders of Gabon to maintain peace and security in the African country after the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential election.

The secretary-general took note of the announcement by the Ministry of Interior of the Gabonese Republic, said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman.

Gabon's incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba has won the presidential elections by garnering 177,122 votes, 49.8 percent of the total, according to the official results of the Aug. 27 presidential election released in the country on Wednesday.

The secretary-general "expresses his deep concern about the reported acts of arson and clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital Libreville," the statement said.

"The secretary-general urges all concerned political leaders and their supporters to refrain from further acts that could undermine peace and stability of the country," the statement said.

Ban also calls on the authorities to ensure that the national security forces exercise maximum restraint in their response to protests.

He "reiterates his call on all political leaders to address their differences peacefully and to address any disputes they may have through existing constitutional and legal channels," said the statement.

The secretary-general has requested his special representative for Central Africa and head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, to accompany the political stakeholders in Gabon in their efforts to calm the situation and peacefully resolve the contentious issues emanating from the electoral process, the statement said.

"The secretary-general will continue to monitor the situation closely," it added. Endi