GABON: Govt claims it has foiled coup attempt

Reports emanating from Gabon quote government authorities as claiming that the attempted coup instituted by soldiers on Monday has been overrun and quenched.

Meanwhile, Four of the five officers who had taken over the state radio in the capital of Libreville, Gabon in an attempted to overthrow the government, have been arrested.

Reports say a fifth officer fled and is being pursued after he joined forces with his other colleagues to seize the state radio station and declared their dissatisfaction with President Ali Bongo.

According to Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou, calm has returned to the capital, Libreville, after the arrests but a military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the masterminds of the attempted coup had not yet been arrested.

According to reports, the soldiers, announced the establishment of a “restoration council” after taking over the radio station.

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The attempted coup caught so many unaware as gun shots were fired in the capital, Libreville, on Monday.

Reading out a statement, the military officers condemned President Ali Bongo who addressed his compatriots last week from Morocco for the first time since reportedly suffering a stroke in October.

A New Year’s address by Bongo “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office”, said Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.

“Once again, one time too many, the wielders of power deceptively continue to instrumentalise the person of Ali Bongo Ondimba, a patient devoid of many of his physical and mental faculties,” said Ondo Obiang.

Reports say moments after the arrests were made, loyalist soldiers fired teargas outside the radio station to disperse about 300 people who had come out into the streets to support the coup attempt.

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