Libreville, Gabon - Gabonese opposition leader Andre Mba Obame, who recently proclaimed himself president, Sunday called for Egypt-style protests, starting Monday, in the central African nation. The call was contained in leaflets distributed in the capital city of Libreville. He said the aim of the protests would be to remove President Ali Bongo from power.

'Now the time to say no has come. February 21, we must reject fear and resignation, poverty and dictatorship,' Obame, leader of the National Union, wrote in the leaflet.

The slogan of Monday demonstration is: 'The time has come: Ali Ben out.”

A former interior minister, Obame participated in last October's presidential elections as an independent candidate, after the ruling PDG chose as its official candidate the late president's son, Ali Bongo.

Obame subsequently joined the National Union, a coalition of opposition parties.

On 27 Jan., he proclaimed himself president and appointed a 19-member cabinet. Since then, he has been holed up at the UNDP head office to avoid arrest.

In the meantime, President Ali Bongo is on an official visit to France.

He will be received Monday by French President Nicolas Sarkozy before flying to New York to attend the meeting with representatives of Equatorial Guinea and the United Nations on the border dispute between the two African nations.

Pana 21/02/2011