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Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has stated that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he provoked "violent election protests".

No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been lost their lives during clashes between police and military and protesters since the electoral process on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

Issa Tchiroma maintains that he was the true winner, a statement rejected by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have worried the international community, with the UN, AU and European Union demanding restraint.

Official's Claims

Earlier this week, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of organising what he described as "unauthorized" protests resulting in the deaths, and also condemned him for declaring victory in the election.

He further stated that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an rebellious scheme" will also face legal action.

Election Results

The president, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the most elderly national leader, obtained the 12 October election with 53.7% of the vote, compared to just over a third for the challenger, according to the electoral authority.

Opposition Response

Tchiroma Bakary is has not yet commented to the authorities' move to prosecute him, but he had before announced that he would not accept a rigged election - and that he was not afraid of being arrested.

On election result day, he claimed that gunmen used lethal force on protesters assembled near his residence in Garoua, fatally wounding at least two civilians.

Investigation Revealed

Recently, the government official disclosed that an probe would be initiated into clashes before and after the announcement of the vote outcome.

"Throughout the violence, some of the perpetrators were killed," he said, without offering a exact count of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the incidents.

The minister added that several officers of the security forces also suffered serious injuries.

Present Conditions

Although the interior minister maintained the condition across the country was now under control, demonstrators remain active in various areas of the country, especially in Douala and Garoua, where demonstrators set up barricades on that day, and burnt tyres on the streets.

Experts alert that the post-electoral violence could plunge the country into a governmental instability.