The coffin with Gabonese President Omar Bongo seen on route to the airport at Libreville, Gabon, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. African heads of state and France's president laid wreaths beside the coffin of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo as his official state funeral began Tuesday in the marble hall of the Central African nation's presidential palace. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

The coffin with Gabonese President Omar Bongo seen on route to the airport at Libreville, Gabon, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. African heads of state and France's president laid wreaths beside the coffin of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo as his official state funeral began Tuesday in the marble hall of the Central African nation's presidential palace.

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  1. 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'.

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  1. Supporters of Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, attend his final presidential campaign rally in Libreville, Gabon Saturday Aug. 29, 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.
  2. Supporters of Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, leave his final presidential campaign rally in Libreville, Gabon Saturday Aug. 29, 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.
  3. Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, addresses supporters during his final presidential campaign rally in Libreville, Gabon Saturday Aug. 29, 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.
  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. 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'.
  6. 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'.
  7. 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'.
  8. 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'.
  9. 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'.
  10. 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'.
  11. 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'.
  12. 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'.
  13. 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'.
  14. 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'.
  15. 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'.
  16. 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'.

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