Cameroon blames post-vote deaths on opposition leader / Photo: © AFP
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Cameroon blames post-vote deaths on opposition leader
Cameroon's government on Tuesday acknowledged that people died during protests against the disputed re-election of 92-year-old President Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, but blamed the opposition leader for the deaths.
Four people have been reported killed in the central African nation since demonstrators took to the streets to protest the announcement that Biya, in office since 1982, had secured an eighth term in elections this month.
Former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary insists that he won the vote, and hundreds have heeded his call to rally in several Cameroonian cities in the wake of the vote, with police breaking up the sporadic and limited protests.
"Illegal demonstrations have resulted in loss of life and the destruction of public and private property," Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji told a press conference, without giving further details.
Blaming Tchiroma's "repeated calls for insurrection", he alleged that the ex-minister's "supporters organised violent demonstrations".
This led to fires, pillaging and looting in several cities, including Dschang in the west, Ngon in central Cameroon, and Guider and Garoua in the north, he claimed.
"During these criminal attacks... some of the attackers lost their lives," Atanga Nji said.
An investigation had been opened into the opposition leader as he "has committed several offences punishable by our laws", the minister added.
Several members of the security forces were "grievously wounded" in clashes with protesters, he said.
Violence in the aftermath of the closer-than-expected October 12 ballot has raised fears that the unrest could escalate in the former French colony.
The African Union on Tuesday condemned the authorities' response to the protests, though it also congratulated Biya on his win.
AU chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf "is gravely concerned about the reported violence, repression and arrests of protesters and political actors in connection with the election results", it said on X.
- 'Death by firearm' -
According to Tchiroma, two protesters were shot dead on Monday near his home in Garoua.
One local person, a teacher who asked not to be named, said: "I'm staying at home all week. If the violence starts again, we won't be able to get away in time."
On Sunday, four people were killed in clashes between security forces and supporters of the opposition in the economic capital Douala, according to the region's governor.
Videos claiming to show more deaths since Monday have been doing the rounds on social media, though the authorities have given no official confirmation.
Police were out in force on Tuesday in Douala, while shops tentatively reopened in Garoua, AFP journalists saw.
"Violence could erupt at any moment. We hope things will calm down," said another resident, Boubakary, 26.
The EU on Tuesday said it was "deeply concerned" about the violent repression of the protests and urged the authorities to release all those it said were arbitrarily detained.
"The European Union urges all sides to maintain restraint and refrain from any action that may further exacerbate tensions," said the bloc's foreign affairs spokesman, Anouar El Anouni.
More protests broke out on Monday despite restrictions, with security forces reportedly moving in to disperse them.
The EU deplored "the death by firearm of a number of civilians", El Anouni said.
"It also calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained since the presidential elections," he added.
Biya is only the second person to lead Cameroon since independence from France in 1960.
He has repressed political and armed opposition and held onto power in the face of social upheaval, economic inequality and separatist violence.
J.al-Haddad--BT
