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Executives of the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell have been defending their Nigerian operations at a parliamentary hearing in the Netherlands. Its Dutch president Peter de Wit said the company was doing a good job under difficult circumstances. Amnesty International accused Shell of abusing human rights and failing to
clean up
environmental damage.
An opposition leader in Gabon has taken refuge in the United Nations compound after declaring himself the legitimate president of the country. Andre Mba Obame said he'd been
inspire
d by power struggles in Tunisia and Ivory Coast, but Gabon's government has now dissolved his party. Here's Barbara Plett.
The opposition leader has always claimed to have won elections that were held in 2009. His move now appears to have been inspired by the political struggles in Tunisia and Ivory Coast. In Ivory Coast, the UN is guarding the internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara because his rival refuses to cede power after
contentious
elections. The African Union has played a crucial role in supporting Mr Ouattara, but in the case of Gabon, it's expressed surprise and concern, noting that the 2009 election was monitored by international observers. A statement issued by the organisation said it was extremely worried by the tendency toward multiple crises in Africa linked to elections and governance.