Gabon opposition leader in hiding

Mr Mamboundou says he does not know why the police raid took place

Gabon's main opposition leader says he has gone into hiding after government forces raided his party's headquarters.

Pierre Mamboundou told the BBC that he was not about to leave the country, but said he was also considering seeking political asylum.

He finished second in last November's presidential election, which he claimed was fraudulent.

President Omar Bongo, Africa's longest-serving head of state, won with 79.2% of the vote.

Mr Mamboundou told the BBC's French service that police had seized documents and computers during the raid on the headquarters of his Gabonese People's Union (UPG) early on Tuesday morning.

The raid follows an incident over the weekend when UPG activists clashed with police in a demonstration against the high cost of living.

Mr Bongo came to power in 1967 as head of a one-party state, but he introduced a multi-party system to the oil-rich country in 1991 and has gone on to win three elections.