French President Sarkozy visits Gabon, meets president and goes to former dictator’s tomb

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French President Sarkozy visits Gabon

LIBREVILLE, Gabon — French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits Gabon for his second trip to the former French colony in Central Africa.

Sarkozy arrived in Gabon Wednesday morning and was met by President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Sarkozy visited the mausoleum of Ali Bongo’s father, the late dictator Omar Bongo.

Gabon’s capital, Libreville, was cleaned up for the visit and the main avenues were adorned with posters of Sarkozy and Ali Bongo.

Sarkozy was one of the first leaders to congratulate Ali Bongo after his contested win in September’s election. Opposition leaders accused France of meddling in the election and propping up the elder Bongo. Protesters burned the French Consulate and French oil company Total evacuated employees and their families to the capital.