Gabon president seeks talks with opposition ahead of election ruling

Gabon President Ali Bongo wants talks with opposition leader Jean Ping to forestall any possible violence when the Constitutional Court makes a crucial ruling on the country's disputed Aug. 27 election, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. The court must rule by Friday on a request by Ping to recount votes in the province of Haut-Ogooue, a Bongo stronghold. Bongo is willing to meet other candidates "in order to avoid the hate, barbarism and violence ... so that no more Gabonese lose their liv