Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, speaks during a campaign rally in Ntoum, outside Libreville, Gabon Sunday Aug. 23, 2009. The younger Bongo, 50, is running to replace his father, who ruled the central African nation for 41 years until his death in June, in presidential elections Sunday, Aug. 30. AP Photo logo AP Photo 3 months ago

Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, speaks during a campaign rally in Ntoum, outside Libreville, Gabon Sunday Aug. 23, 2009. The younger Bongo, 50, is running to replace his father, who ruled the central African nation for 41 years until his death in June, in presidential elections Sunday, Aug. 30.

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  1. Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba answers journalists' questions after a lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  2. Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba answers journalists' questions after a lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  3. Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba answers journalists' questions after a lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  4. Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba answers journalists' questions after a lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  5. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) escorts his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba after a lunch at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  6. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) shakes hand with his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  7. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) welcomes his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  8. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hand with his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  9. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hand with his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  10. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hand with his Gabon counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  11. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hand with his Gabon counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  12. French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) welcomes his Gabon counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  13. Gabon's President Ali Bongo arrives at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 20, 2009 prior to a lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Bongo's trip comes less than three weeks after French judges threw out a lawsuit alleging that, under his late father, members of his family bought several luxury Paris properties with embezzled Gabonese public funds. The elder Bongo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, was France's closest ally in Africa throughout his 41-year reign and the key figure in the murky network of trade and political ties known to anti-corruption activists as 'FranceAfrique'.
  14. People wait in line to buy bread at a bakery which reopened following recent postelection violence, in Port Gentil, Gabon, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Calm was returning to the streets of the city Monday after several days of looting and insecurity, but anger still simmered over what many in Port Gentil allege was a stolen election. On Friday, the country's constitutional court declared Ali Bongo, son of late dictator Omar Bongo, the winner of last weekend's divisive presidential race.
  15. People wait in line to buy bread at a bakery which reopened following recent postelection violence, in Port Gentil, Gabon, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Calm was returning to the streets of the city Monday after several days of looting and insecurity, but anger still simmered over what many in Port Gentil allege was a stolen election. On Friday, the country's constitutional court declared Ali Bongo, son of late dictator Omar Bongo, the winner of last weekend's divisive presidential race.
  16. Shoppers wait in line to enter a grocery store guarded by soldiers, as businesses begin to reopen following recent post-election violence in Port Gentil, Gabon, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Calm was returning to the streets of the city Monday after several days of looting and insecurity, but anger still simmered over what many in Port Gentil allege was a stolen election. On Friday, the country's constitutional court declared Ali Bongo, son of late dictator Omar Bongo, the winner of last weekend's divisive presidential race.

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