LIBREVILLE ¨C Gabon foiled an attempted military coup Monday, arresting several plotters just hours after they took over state radio in a bid to end 50 years of rule by President Ali Bongo¡¯s family.
Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou said four of the five officers involved were arrested in the capital Libreville. A fifth officer fled and is being pursued, he said.
In a radio message at 4:30 a.m., Lt. Kelly Ondo Obiang, who described himself as an officer in the Republican Guard, said Bongo¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve address from Morocco, where he is recovering from a stroke, ¡°reinforced doubts about the president¡¯s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office.¡±
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