Gabon coup leader takes presidential oath and promises ‘free’ elections

Gen Brice Oligui Nguema pledges to restore civilian rule but does not give timeframe after ousting of Ali Bongo

Brice Oligui Nguema, the general who led a coup last week that toppled Gabon's 55-year-old ruling dynasty, has taken the oath of office as interim president and promised free, transparent and credible elections" to restore civilian rule, though without giving a timeframe.

He also pledged to grant amnesty to political prisoners and insisted the coup had saved Gabon from bloodshed after elections that were obviously loaded".