Gabon's Obame leaves UN offices

2011-02-27 16:19

Libreville - Gabon opposition leader Andre Mba Obame on Sunday left UN offices where he had been holed up since January 25 after declaring himself president.

Mba Obame, along with about 30 people from his self-declared "government" and National Unity party, left the offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libreville at about 10:15 (09:15 GMT), an AFP reporter said.

He was greeted by about 50 supporters and as many police, but police did not intervene.

Mba Obame was to meet with party supporters later on Sunday. Several dozen of his supporters were already at party headquarters where riot police had been deployed, an AFP reporter said.

Mba Obame, a former foreign minister who is claiming victory in Gabon's 2009 presidential poll, took refuge in the UN offices after declaring himself president last month.

Hours after the announcement, the interior ministry announced that Mba Obame's National Unity party was immediately dissolved and he and his supporters were stripped of their official duties and faced treason charges.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba was ultimately declared the winner of the disputed vote.

- SAPA