Gabon opposition candidate calls on President Bongo to "acknowledge his defeat"

By Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon opposition candidate Jean Ping called on President Ali Bongo on Monday to "acknowledge his defeat" in Saturday's presidential election, a head-on challenge to the Bongo family's half-century rule over the oil-rich nation. After publishing numbers on Sunday that showed him comfortably in the lead based on a small percentage of votes, Ping called on Monday for Bongo to step down. "I encourage Ali Bongo to submit to the verdict of the ballot