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Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has declared that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he incited "aggressive post-election demonstrations".

A minimum of four demonstrators have been fatally wounded during clashes between police and military and demonstrators since the presidential election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 winning an eighth consecutive term.

Issa Tchiroma insists that he won the election, a claim rejected by Biya's ruling party, the ruling CPDM.

Aggressive responses by security personnel on protesters have worried the world leaders, with the UN, African Union and European Union calling for moderation.

Minister's Claims

Earlier this week, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of coordinating what he described as "unauthorized" demonstrations leading to the fatalities, and also criticised him for announcing success in the electoral contest.

He noted that the opposition leader's "associates involved in an rebellious scheme" will also be prosecuted.

Poll Figures

The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, obtained the October 12 election with a majority of the votes, compared to a significant minority for the challenger, according to the electoral authority.

Challenger's Position

Issa Tchiroma is has not yet commented to the authorities' move to try him, but he had previously announced that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was not afraid of being taken into custody.

Following the vote count, he said that security forces shot on demonstrators assembled near his house in Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 individuals.

Probe Revealed

Recently, the interior minister announced that an investigation would be initiated into violent incidents before and after the declaration of the election results.

"In the course of these incidents, some of the perpetrators were killed," he commented, without providing a precise figure of protesters who have been lost their lives in the clashes.

The minister noted that several officers of the law enforcement also sustained significant wounds.

Present Conditions

Although Nji maintained the state of affairs throughout Cameroon was now stable, demonstrators continue to protest in some parts of the country, especially in urban centers, where protesters established barricades on that day, and ignited tires on the thoroughfares.

Analysts caution that the post-electoral violence could plunge the nation into a leadership vacuum.