Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo goes on hunger strike

Bongo was ousted in a military coup in August last year, shortly after he won a disputed presidential poll.  He was then confined to his house in the capital, Libreville, along with two of his sons, Jalil and Bilal.
The ruling junta also placed his wife Sylvia Bongo and eldest son Noureddin in prison, awaiting trial on corruption allegations.
In a statement their lawyers alleged that Noureddin was repeatedly tortured, beaten with a hammer and crowbar, strangled, whipped and electrocuted with a taser.
They further allege that Sylvia was beaten, strangled and forced to watch Noureddin’s torture.  
The ousted president, aged 64, had led the oil-rich country since 2009 when he succeeded his father who had been in power for more than 40 years.