FILE - In this July 27, 2007, President of Gabon Omar Bongo, right, waves next to French President Nicolas Sarkozy following Sarkozy's arrival in Libreville, Gabon. While many inscribed the word dictator, autocrat or even despot on Omar Bongo's epitaph, French presidents past and present went out of their way to eulogize him. Omar Bongo, the world's longest-serving president whose 42-year rule of Gabon was a throwback to an era when Africa was ruled by "Big Men," died Monday. He was 73. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

FILE - In this July 27, 2007, President of Gabon Omar Bongo, right, waves next to French President Nicolas Sarkozy following Sarkozy's arrival in Libreville, Gabon. While many inscribed the word dictator, autocrat or even despot on Omar Bongo's epitaph, French presidents past and present went out of their way to eulogize him. Omar Bongo, the world's longest-serving president whose 42-year rule of Gabon was a throwback to an era when Africa was ruled by "Big Men," died Monday. He was 73.

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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. 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. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  10. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  11. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) tastes a piece of cheese as he visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  12. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  13. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) speaks with France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand (R) before inaugurating a major exhibit of art from Turkey at the Grand Palais in Paris October 9, 2009. Culture Minister Mitterrand is facing calls for his resignation for having written about paying boys for sex in Thailand, revelations that were made in a 2005 autobiography "The Bad Life". Jean-David Levitte (2ndL) is President Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor.
  14. A member of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, writes on a board the 2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy' promises as the workers prepare a symbolic meeting with the president. In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  15. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  16. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.

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