The chief military rebel who led a failed coup in Gabon on Monday has
been arrested and two of his commandos killed after they stormed a
public radio station, the presidency said.
A group of soldiers attempted to take power and called in a radio
appeal for a popular uprising against ailing President Ali Bongo, who is
abroad recovering from a stroke.
Security forces stormed the radio station in the capital Libreville
to take it back, killing two rebel troops, arresting their leader and
freeing journalists who had been forced to help rebels make their
appeal.
“The situation is under control,” the presidency statement said.
Six rebel troops earlier Monday burst into the state radio
broadcasting station, “neutralising” gendarmes in front of the building
before making their broadcast, it said.
Officials earlier said five rebels had entered the building and four had been arrested.
The message was read by a person who identified himself as Lieutenant
Ondo Obiang Kelly, the deputy commander of the Republican Guard and
head of a previously unknown group, the Patriotic Youth Movement of the
Gabonese Defence and Security Forces.
He said a “national restoration council” would be formed in the
former French colony “to guarantee a democratic transition for the
Gabonese people”.
Bongo is staying at a private residence in the Moroccan capital Rabat
after suffering a stroke. He made a televised speech on New Year’s Eve
but has not been in the West African country since October.
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