Gabon Junta Frees Deposed President Bongo From House Arrest

  • Ousted president free to seek medical treatment abroad: junta
  • Ali Bongo overthrown last week in Central African country

Ali Bongo in Libreville, in March.

Photographer: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

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Gabon’s military government freed President Ali Bongo from house arrest, a week after overthrowing him in a bloodless coup.

The deposed president is free to seek medical treatment abroad if he wishes, a junta spokesman said on state television in the capital, Libreville, on Wednesday. His release comes two days after coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema was sworn in as transitional president.