Gabon's Bongo refuses calls on vote recount

Gabon's re-elected President Ali Bongo rejected calls to recount disputed votes, which prompted deadly riot in the central African state, media reported here on Wednesday.

"What people should be asking me to do is to apply the law. I cannot violate the law. As far as a recount is concerned, that's done at the level of the Constitutional Court," Bongo told French RTL radio.

"I will be the president for all Gabonese. I will work with all my compatriots who want to join me in working for the development of the country. But it is difficult to work with those who asked the Gabonese people to go into the streets and loot," he added.

Asked whether he would form a unity government with the opposition, Bongo said " it's premature" and "no condition is met" to discuss such an issue.

Last week, violence erupted in the central African country after opposition contested the result of an election which gave new seven-year mandate to President Bongo. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured in the riot, according to Gabonese authorities.

Bongo took office as Gabonese president in 2009 on the death of his father. Endit