Gabon Coup Leader Votes, Says Very Confident Of Presidential Win

Gabons interim leader Brice Oligui Nguema cast his ballot on Saturday as presidential voting began , saying he was very confident of victory in an election that comes 19 months after he led a coup in the oil-rich Central African nation.

Nguema, who overthrew President Ali Bongo, ending his familys half-century rule, is widely favored to win the poll.

The former army general has campaigned across Gabon wearing a baseball cap with the slogan We Build Together.

He has vowed to diversify the countrys oil-reliant economy and promote agriculture, industry and tourism in a nation where a third of the population lives in poverty.