Nairobi/Libreville  ­ Gabon has suffered a second day of violence and looting following the victory of Ali-Ben Bongo in presidential elections.

Opposition supporters first went on the rampage Thursday after Bongo, whose late father Omar Bongo ruled the country for more than 41 years, was declared the winner of Sunday's presidential vote.

They are furious at what they see as a dynastic succession rather than a true election.

The authorities imposed a curfew, but the French consulate in the coastal town of Port Gentil was set on fire for a second time and the offices of French oil company Total were also targeted.

Protestors also gutted a police station, Gabonese news website Gaboneco. com reported.

Opposition figures have long accused France of propping up the regime of Omar Bongo.

But France rejected charges of favouritism. "France's stance is clear. We don't have a candidate. We never had a candidate," stated the French Foreign Ministry.

France called for Gabon's estimated 10,000 French citizens to remain at home. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that plans were in place to protect French citizens if necessary.

The ministry also justified the presence of 1,000 French soldiers in Gabon, saying they were needed to defend its consulate.

Jean-François Ndongou, Gabon's interior minister, told journalists on Friday that "the law would be applied rigorously" and denied the tiny West African nation of 1.5 million people was under siege.

Uncomfirmed reports said gunshots were heard as police quelled the riots with teargas. At least two believe were reported to have died.

The unrest came after a tense four days of waiting for results from Sunday's election.

On Monday, Bongo and his main rivals, Andre Mba Obame and Pierre Mambounda, all claimed victory.

The electoral commission was due to announce the results Wednesday, but the announcement was delayed, further stoking tensions.

Bongo was eventually unveiled as the winner with just under 42 per cent of the vote.

The opposition accuses Bongo and the state of rigging the elections. But Bongo said he would be a president for "all Gabonese".

Ali-Ben Bongo's father, ruled virtually unchallenged until his death of natural causes in June.

At the time, he was the world's longest serving leader - no mean feat in a part of the world where coups have long been commonplace.

He was viewed as one of the ultimate political survivors, using corruption, cronyism and lashings of oil money to keep himself at the top for more than four decades.

Bongo died as French authorities were investigating whether he had used hundreds of millions of dollars of Gabonese public money to buy dozens of lavish properties in France while most of Gabon's people live in poverty. (dpa)