Gabon Opposition leader calls for nationwide strike

Gabon’s opposition leader Jean Ping called on Monday for a general strike to protest against what he said was a fraudulent re-election victory by President Ali Bongo.

Ping, who says he is now the leader of the Central African nation, said in a statement on his website that his fight was not over, even as calm returned to the capital following deadly riots last week.

“I ask you from today onward not to use violence but to resist by blocking the country’s economy,” he said in the statement, addressing all Gabonese. President Ali Bongo has dismissed allegations of vote fixing.